GASTRIC PHYTOBEZOAR - UNUSUAL ASSOCIATION AND RESOLUTION

A 58 year old man underwent a laparotomy for intestinal obstruction, w hich proved to be due to intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Following a sl ow postoperative course, he was discovered to have a gastric phytobezo ar. The association between bezoars and pseudo-obstruction has not bee n previously described, but might be expected. The gastric phytobezoar could not be fragmented mechanically, but it completely disappeared w hen enteral feeding was commenced. The possibility of a future role of enteral feeding in this situation is suggested.