CASE REPORT article
Front. Med.
Sec. Gastroenterology
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1620356
Pear phytobezoar as a rare cause of small bowel obstruction: A case report
Provisionally accepted
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Jiangbei Hospital, Nanjing, China
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A phytobezoar is an accumulation of indigestible fruit and vegetable fibers in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Small bowel obstruction (SBO) caused by phytobezoars is infrequent, and pear-induced instances are extremely rare. We present a 45-year-old woman with a five-day history of colicky abdomen discomfort, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, and no bowel movements. She had two cesarean sections but no prior GI issues and had eaten an extensive quantity of pears two days before symptom onset. A physical examination showed discomfort, distension, and decreased bowel sounds in the abdomen. Laboratory testing was normal, but computed tomography (CT) revealed dilated small intestine loops and a transition point in the right lower abdomen. Conservative treatment, which included fasting, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and nasogastric decompression, failed. A 30 x 30 mm pear bezoar blocking the terminal ileum was removed through a 4-cm enterotomy during laparoscopy. The enterotomy was closed transversely, and the patient healed normally, remaining symptom-free three months later. This case emphasizes the value of staying aware of phytobezoar-induced SBO in individuals’ patients who have not previously undergone stomach surgery. Early dietary history, imaging characteristics, and timely surgical intervention are crucial. Individualized dietary counseling can aid in preventing recurrence in at-risk patients.
Keywords: Small intestinal obstruction, Phytobezoar, Pear, Enterotomy, Laparoscopy
Received: 29 Apr 2025; Accepted: 31 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Yu, Feng, Liu, Cao and Qiang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Guanghui Qiang, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Jiangbei Hospital, Nanjing, China
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