• Christoforos S Kosmidis, Chrysi Maria Mystakidou, Nikolaos Varsamis, Charilaos Koulouris, Christina Sevva, Konstantina Papadopoulou, Christina Michael, Nikolaos Iason Katsios, Vasiliki Theodorou, Petrina Miltiadous, Konstantinos Papadopoulos, Konstantinos Vlassopoulos, Katerina Zarampouka, and Stylianos Mantalovas.
• European Interbalkan Medical Center, 10 Asklipiou Street, 55535 Pylaia, Greece.
• Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Jun 30; 59 (7).

AbstractPhytobezoars constitute conglomerates of indigested plant fibers and are a rare cause of acute mechanical ileus. They exhibit an increased prevalence in the elderly population and people with specific predisposing conditions. Radiological imaging can often set a definitive diagnosis and dictate the optimal therapeutic approach, combined with the patient's clinical status. An 81-year-old male presented with deteriorating clinical symptoms of intestinal obstruction, and an exploratory laparotomy was performed following inconclusive radiological findings; multiple phytobezoars and incipient intussusception were revealed intraoperatively. A patient's medical history can often raise clinical suspicion of phytobezoars. However, a careful etiological investigation is imperative in all cases of mechanical ileus in advanced ages; early detection and dissolution of phytobezoars, when applicable, can reduce the need for surgical interventions.

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