Eating styrofoam balls presented as intestinal obstruction- PICA associated with bezoar: a rare case report and review of literature

Haji, Altaf G.; Sivakumar, Naveen; Piramanayagam, Bala; Palit, A.

doi:10.18203/2349-2902.isj20223016

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…A different patient with pica admitted to eating toilet paper due to cravings; this individual developed abdominal pain that was eventually found to be due to bezoars 18 . Yet another pica‐associated case of intestinal obstruction occurred due to ingestion of Styrofoam balls 5 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other types of bezoars include trichobezoars (contains hair), pharmacobezoars (contains hardened material of different kinds of drugs), and lactobezoars (contains milk protein). Bezoars can also be composed of materials, such as tissue paper and polystyrene foam products (ex: foam cups) 5 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bezoars can also be composed of materials, such as tissue paper and polystyrene foam products (ex: foam cups). 5 Bezoars are not spoken about very often as they are relatively rare. Many times, they are found incidentally.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…18 Yet another pica-associated case of intestinal obstruction occurred due to ingestion of Styrofoam balls. 5 Pica should be addressed and treated to prevent occurrence or recurrence of bezoar due to tissue paper, foam, etc. In cases, such as this one where the patient was ingesting tissue paper, whether it be with or without pica diagnosis, the patient should be evaluated for any undiagnosed behavioral conditions, and similarly, underlying nutritional deficiencies should be addressed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bezoars: Culprits of gastrointestinal obstruction that may lead to surgical intervention and potentially surgical complications

Powell,

Pereira

2023

Clinical Case Reports

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Key Clinical MessageBezoars can cause gastrointestinal obstruction and may require surgery. Surgery carries the risk of complications. Medical professionals should perform detailed history in diet and behaviors for patients presenting with abdominal pain to identify risk factors for bezoars, then educate these patients and their families about risks and complications of bezoars.AbstractBezoars are solid masses of undigested material that can cause obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. There are different types of bezoars; phytobezoar, trichobezoar, pharmacobezoar, lactobezoar, and bezoars containing tissue paper or polystyrene foam. This case report is of a 13‐year‐old Hispanic male who suffered a postsurgical complication after removal of bezoar. He had a past surgical history of appendectomy and presented to the hospital with a 1‐day history of right lower quadrant abdominal pain associated with fever and diarrhea. X‐radiation images and computed tomography scans aided in the diagnosis of pelvic abscess as a complication of postsurgical enterotomy and closure of the enterotomy to remove bezoar from the small bowel. The initial bezoar removal and the postsurgical complication of pelvic abscess resulted in the patient staying for 19 days in the hospital. At discharge, the patient and his guardian were advised to follow up with the patient's primary care physician and surgical team. The patient made an uneventful recovery. He did not experience any long‐term complications and fully recovered. This report demonstrates that although bezoars are rare, they can cause significant obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract leading to the need for management, such as surgery, which carries its own risks. It is important to note that the postsurgical complication of pelvic abscess can occur due to surgery itself and not because of bezoar specifically. Abdominal surgery in general poses the risk of pelvic abscess. The consideration is to expectantly decrease the occurrence of bezoars so that consequently there will not be a need for surgery in removal of bezoars due to obstruction. The effects of bezoars can be prevented through educating the community and addressing underlying psychiatric disorders.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Bezoars: Culprits of gastrointestinal obstruction that may lead to surgical intervention and potentially surgical complications

Powell,

Pereira

2023

Clinical Case Reports

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Giant Gastric Trichobezoar: Unveiling the Complexity of a 14‐Year‐Old’s Abdominal Pain

Iqbal,

Faraz,

Bano

et al. 2024

Case Reports in Surgery

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Trichobezoars are accumulations of undigested hair. Usually, this disorder follows a psychiatric etiology; however, sometimes a nonpsychiatric etiology, such as pica, can also be suspected. Rapunzel syndrome is a rare type of trichobezoar in which the hair is usually confined to the stomach and small intestine. The authors present a rare case of trichobezoar in a young female without any psychiatric symptoms. Trichobezoar results in nonspecific GI symptoms and this causes delays in its diagnosis. It should always be considered a differential in a young female with nonspecific GI symptoms, especially in those with evidence of iron deficiency anemia.

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Eating styrofoam balls presented as intestinal obstruction- PICA associated with bezoar: a rare case report and review of literature

Cited by 2 publications

References 11 publications

Bezoars: Culprits of gastrointestinal obstruction that may lead to surgical intervention and potentially surgical complications

Bezoars: Culprits of gastrointestinal obstruction that may lead to surgical intervention and potentially surgical complications

Giant Gastric Trichobezoar: Unveiling the Complexity of a 14‐Year‐Old’s Abdominal Pain

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