60-year-old man suffers intestinal obstruction after eating 3 pickled persimmons

(Dan Tri) - After eating 3 pickled persimmons, a 59-year-old male patient had a dull pain in the epigastric region, then the pain gradually increased, and he had difficulty defecating. The doctor discovered that the patient had a large mass of food residue in his stomach.

On November 19, Ninh Binh General Hospital announced that the General Surgery Department had successfully performed surgery on a case of intestinal obstruction caused by a large mass of food residue in the stomach.

Patient TVC, 59 years old, residing in Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh, was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain and constipation. Three days earlier, he had eaten three pickled persimmons and then developed symptoms of dull abdominal pain, intermittent pain and constipation.

A large mass of food residue was removed from the stomach of a 60-year-old patient with intestinal obstruction due to eating pickled persimmons (Photo: Ninh Binh Provincial General Hospital).

Through examination and paraclinical tests, the doctor diagnosed the patient with intestinal obstruction due to food residue, with a large mass of residue in the stomach. The patient was indicated for laparotomy to dissolve the food residue in the small intestine and push it down to the colon, while opening the stomach to remove the food residue.

The surgery was successful. After 6 days, the patient recovered stably, the incision was dry and healed, with little pain, and he was able to eat and walk easily.

Surgeons at Ninh Binh General Hospital said that intestinal obstruction caused by food residue is a common surgical emergency. Most cases require surgery to dissolve or remove the residue.

This phenomenon occurs when a mass of food residue forms in the stomach and moves down to the small intestine, causing blockage. The cause is often due to eating foods containing a lot of tannins such as persimmons, guava, figs, fruit seeds, or foods that are difficult to digest such as bamboo shoots, jackfruit, and chewing gum. Tannins and fiber, when exposed to stomach acid, will precipitate into a solid mass of residue.

People who are prone to intestinal obstruction due to food residue are usually people who have had gastric surgery, the elderly who have lost their teeth, and children.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/nguoi-dan-ong-60-tuoi-tac-ruot-do-an-3-trai-hong-ngam-20241119081213517.htm