Gastric bezoars. A technique of endoscopic removal.

Gastric bezoar formation is an uncommon sequela of gastroduodenal surgery or unusual eating habits. Because they generally produce severe symptoms, their removal is always necessary. Previously, this required surgical extirpation or slow enzymatic dissolution. We present here an endoscopic procedure for bezoar removal utilized successfully in five patients with vegetable-mucus bezoars. This technique employs a jet spray of water under direct vision to mechanically disrupt the bezoar, which may then be removed using a large gastric lavage tube. This procedure is simple, safe, and rapid and is therefore recommended as an alternative to surgical removal or enzymatic dissolution of gastric bezoars.