Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie
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A chart review from 1975 to 1985 at the Toronto Western Hospital identified 16 patients (9 women and 7 men, between the ages of 39 and 83 years) with gastrointestinal phytobezoars. Nine had previously undergone vagotomy and drainage procedures. There were two distinct clinical groups, dependent on the location gastric bezoars presented with chronic burning epigastric pain and nausea and vomiting in addition to anorexia and weight loss. ⋯ The postoperative courses were uncomplicated except for wound infection in one patient. None of the patients with an isolated gastric bezoar required surgery. Three patients were successfully treated with gastric lavage and the others with clear fluid diet.