Phytobezoar: a recurring abdominal problem.
Phytobezoars often follow gastric surgery for peptic ulcer disease. Billroth I resections have a high incidence of gastric bezoars, especially if accompanied by vagotomy. The larger opening of a Billroth II resection may result in intestinal bezoars with obstruction in the narrow terminal ileum. Gastric bezoars can be treated with enzymes or can be broken up by endoscopy; only rarely is operative removal required. Intestinal bezoars can be treated by long-tube and enzyme instillation but usually require laparotomy. If possible, the bolus should be milked into the cecum, but enterotomy or even resection may be required. Prevention is the best treatment and can be carried out by instructing patients who have had gastric surgery to avoid the fibrous portion of oranges and grapefruit and to avoid persimmons.