Dissolution of pharmacobezoar using carbonated beverage.

ABSTRACT

Bezoars are concretion of undigested material found in the upper alimentary tract, particularly the stomach. Physiologic disturbances such as gastrointestinal dysmotility or anatomical derangements have been described as contributory in most cases of pharmacobezoars. Gastric phamacobezoars can be treated with endoscopic fragmentation or surgery. Gastric lavage with carbonated beverage has been successfully used to treat gastric phytobezoars. We report a 67-year-old man with pharmacobezoar successfully treated by infusion and intrabezoar injection of carbonated beverage. Subsequent endoscopy revealed an underlying adenocarcinoma in the stomach.