“Jodhpur Bezoar”: Giant Polyurethane Bezoar

Abstract

Acute upper gastrointestinal obstruction due to foreign body ingestion is rare (<6 % of all small intestinal obstruction). Bezoars tend to grow slowly and only thereafter cause obstruction, if any. Rapid formation of a bezoar within hours of ingestion of the offending substance is a unique entity. Here, we present a case of a 22-year-old Indian male who was brought in the emergency department with history of ingesting chemicals used for refrigerator insulation, with suicidal intent. Within hours, he was operated for suspected perforation. And on the operation table, we came across surprisingly a cast extending from the whole of the esophagus to as far as 2 ft of proximal jejunum! Probably the first of its kind ever known! And no breach in the gut could be found in spite of free gas under the dome of diaphragm, probably due to the chemicals sealing the rent as it solidified!