What is a Bezoar and How Can it Affect You?
Whether you have been hearing about bezoars or you have never even seen one, it is important to know exactly what they are. You will be amazed at how much these little creatures can do to your body, so it is worth knowing how they can affect you. Luckily, there are several things that you can do to avoid them.
Trichobezoars
Often associated with cats, trichobezoars are indigestible hair masses that are found in the stomach or intestine. These masses can be up to 30 cm long, and can range from 3 to 10 cm in diameter. They can cause obstruction and can be life threatening.
The symptoms of trichobezoars include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia. In addition, they may be associated with an underlying psychiatric disorder. Several causes are considered, including trichotillomania, which is an urge to pull out hair before swallowing, and anorexia nervosa, which is a condition characterized by anorexia.
Psychiatric evaluation is important for patients with a history of trichobezoars. Behavioral therapy, if indicated, can help prevent future occurrences. It is also important to examine a patient for other comorbid conditions.
Diagnostic imaging can help diagnose a trichobezoar. CT scans and ultrasonography are common tests. These can also detect the presence of secondary masses in the abdomen. Surgical procedures can be used to remove the hairball. However, endoscopy is not a preferred method of treatment.
Trichobezoars can be diagnosed by history, physical examination, and radiological imaging. Indications for endoscopy are unclear, but repeated endoscopy can lead to ulceration and pressure ulcers.
There are two primary forms of surgical treatment: laparoscopy and open surgery. The advantages of laparoscopy over open surgery are that the procedure is less invasive, and requires fewer postoperative complications. A disadvantage of laparoscopy is that the procedure takes longer to perform.
The most effective form of trichobezoar treatment is to treat the underlying intestinal disease. The gastrointestinal tract is susceptible to dietary changes, stress, and decreased gastric motility. A high-carbohydrate diet can decrease the motility of the GI tract.
Lactobezoars
Several factors contribute to the incidence of gastric lactobezoars. Those include low birth weight, high casein concentration, dehydration, and immature GI tract. Surgical intervention should be reserved for patients with complications.
A gastric lactobezoar is an irregular mass of milk coagulum that floats in the lumen of the stomach. Symptoms include abdominal distention, vomiting, and diarrhea. The incidence of lactobezoars is highest in infants with low birth weight.
The incidence of lactobezoars in adults is relatively rare. The etiology of the disease is not completely understood. Many researchers have suggested that dietary factors, such as a high casein-to-whey protein ratio, contribute to the development of the disease. Medications may delay gastric emptying, which can increase the risk of lactobezoar formation.
In one study, the incidence of gastric lactobezoars was more prevalent in the first six months of life. It was also more likely to occur in premature infants.
In a study of term neonates, researchers studied the relationship between infant formula with higher whey-to-casein ratios and lactobezoars. Compared with infants fed formula containing higher levels of fat and calcium, infants fed a formula with higher whey-to-casein percentages had a higher incidence of lactobezoars.
A lactobezoar is a compact mass of undigested milk concretions. It is most commonly found in the stomach, but can occur anywhere in the intestine. The disease is believed to be secondary to dehydration. It can cause metabolic changes and lead to hemodynamic instability. Often, treatment of lactobezoars involves dietary guidance and endoscopy.
Although this disorder is rare, early and aggressive management has a favorable prognosis. Changing to a predigested elemental diet and limiting rapid feeding methods are recommended. The use of N-acetylcysteine, which cleaves disulfide bonds in mucoproteins, has been reported to be effective in treating gastric lactobezoars.
Phytobezoars
Phytobezoars are a type of gastrointestinal obstruction, and are formed when undigested plant material, such as fibres and skins, accumulate. They are usually caused by eating excessive amounts of certain foods, such as grapes, bananas, and mangoes.
Most of the time, patients with bezoars are asymptomatic, but may present with symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain. They may also have a sense of fullness in the upper abdomen. In addition, they can cause gastric outlet obstruction. Bezoars are more common in the small intestine than the stomach.
Several cases of bezoars are described in the literature. Some are caused by poorly digested food or incomplete mastication. Others are caused by drugs. Other types of bezoars are foreign body bezoars, which are parasitic worms or plastic. These bezoars can be lodged in the rumen, which can lead to peritonitis.
Phytobezoars can be diagnosed by endoscopy. However, the best way to diagnose bezoars is by obtaining a CT scan. This type of imaging is much more accurate than other methods. In addition, it can detect other diseases of the intestinal tract. It can also detect co-existing multiple bezoars.
In the Korean University Hospital, 17 patients were treated for gastric phytobezoars from 2002 to 2008. In 14 of the cases, the bezoar was discovered through endoscopy, while the remaining two were diagnosed through laparoscopy. The patients were classified into four groups based on their clinical findings.
The most common predisposing factor for bezoars is past gastric surgery. Among the patients, eight had prior gastric surgery. Five of these had acute intestinal obstruction. The other three had dyspepsia.
Surgical treatments included endoscopic resection and segmental ileal resection. In two cases, minimally invasive surgery was performed, which then converted to laparotomy.
Man-made bezoars
During the 17th century, the Jesuit monks of Goa started producing man-made bezoars. The stones were made of a paste that included exotic ingredients such as coral, pearl and amethyst. The stones were then polished to a sheen.
Bezoars were thought to have magical properties and were considered valuable gems. They could travel from the bellies of goats to the mouths of kings. They were often valued more than the weight of gold.
They were used as an antidote to poison, and were believed to have miraculous healing properties. In the 16th century, French surgeon Ambroise Pare tested the healing power of bezoar stones. His results indicated that most bezoars did not cure poisoning. However, he was convinced that bezoars were not the answer to all poisons.
As the early modern era wore on, the popularity of bezoars declined. Although they are still a popular item, they are no longer viewed as a cure for poisoning. They are now mainly viewed as anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract.
In the modern orthodox medical community, bezoars are viewed as gastrointestinal anomalies. They are thought to form due to a delayed gastric emptying process. They may also disrupt the lining of the digestive tract. In some people, they may produce symptoms such as vomiting and bleeding. Others may experience a loss of appetite, and some may experience pain.
In the past, bezoars were believed to be the only remedy for poisoning. They were also a threat to royalty and military leaders. They were so popular that they created a network of trade in Persia, Europe, and the Americas.
During the early modern era, bezoars were considered to be a cure for all poison. They were also a source of income for wealthy individuals. The stones were sometimes kept in special cases, and they were valued over the weight of gold.
Treatment
Depending on the type of bezoar, treatment options may include surgical removal, endoscopic treatment, or medical dissolution therapy. The goal of bezoar treatment is to prevent recurrence.
The diagnosis of bezoars is made by a thorough patient history and physical examination. A bezoar may appear as a single mass or a cluster of masses. Symptoms of bezoars include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The lining of the digestive tract can be affected by bezoars, and this can result in a perforation. Bezoars can also result in obstruction of the esophagus and gastric outlet.
A bezoar can be formed from various materials, including hair, plant material, and metals. They can also be found in unusual locations, such as the stomach. Some types of bezoars are more common in children than adults. Some bezoars are enzymatic resistant, meaning they will not dissolve in digestive juices.
In patients who do not respond to treatment, surgery is usually needed. A laparoscopy is typically the first option for surgical bezoar removal.
If bezoars are removed during the diagnostic process, doctors can break them up by using forceps. If bezoars are causing esophageal obstruction, they can be treated by injecting an endoscopic solution.
In small bowel bezoars, the lining of the intestines can be affected by bezoars, resulting in ulcers. The bezoars may present as a yellow or green mass, or they may be present in the form of a lump.
Inflammation of the abdominal cavity can cause severe pain and sweating. Other symptoms of bezoars include halitosis, which can indicate the presence of putrefying matter in the stomach.
Bezoars can be caused by a variety of factors, such as age, gender, psychiatric conditions, and genetics. If you or a loved one develops a bezoar, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis to avoid complication.
What is a Bezoar and How Can it Affect You?
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