Objectives: To determine the demographics, potential risk factors, endoscopic interventions and outcomes relating to gastric bezoars in pediatric patients; and comparing results with previously published literature. Methods: Retrospective series by chart review of patients identified by International Classification of Diseases-9 codes 938 and 935, using the following Medical Subject Headings: 1, term bezoar; 2, Keywords gastric bezoar∗ or gastric foreign body∗. Results: Thirty pediatric patients between ages of 2 to 18 years were found with gastric bezoars, with a female predominance. Majority had a phytobezoar. Six patients were diagnosed with dysautonomia, implying possible role of autonomic dysfunction contributing to abnormal gastric retention. Frequent symptoms included abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, a decrease in appetite, and unintentional weight loss. A higher prevalence of underlying gastrointestinal disorders was found in those with bezoars. Nuclear medicine gastric emptying scan performed in 13 children was significantly abnormal in only 4 of these children. Most patients were treated with endoscopic removal of the bezoar. Endoscopic removal was accomplished by Roth net, generally requiring multiple passes. At follow-up, most of the children had improvement of symptoms, with bezoar recurrence in 1 patient. Conclusions: This is to our knowledge the largest series of gastric bezoars in pediatrics. On the basis of our review, phytobezoars may be under-reported in pediatrics. Bezoars should be considered in children presenting with chronic abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting; even in developmentally normal children and those with normal gastric emptying. We suggest that dysautonomia and underlying gastrointestinal disorders may be potential risk factors.

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We report the case of a 20-year-old male who presented to us with acute bilateral multiple cranial neuropathy in the form of bilateral total ophthalmoplegia and bulbar dysfunction. The patient had normal haematological and biochemical investigations, however, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed raised protein (96mg/dl) in the second week of illness. Peripheral nerve conduction studies and an MRI of the brain were normal. The patient showed gradual improvement after three weeks of supportive treatment. Considering the course of illness and the clinical and investigational profile, a diagnosis of an oculopharyngeal variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) was made.

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