An unusual case of obstructing small bowel phytobezoar in young patients

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common surgical condition frequently caused by adhesion (73.8%) and hernia (18.5%). SBO caused by bezoars is uncommon and accounts approximately for only 0.4–4% of the total. Phytobezoars are concretions of poorly digested fruit and vegetables that are found in the alimentary tract, and are mostly composed of indigestible cellulose, tannin, and lignin from ingested vegetables and fruits. Surgical intervention is often required in the management of small bowel phytobezoars. The operating technique provides three options: manual progression, enterotomy, and bowel resection. Here we report a case of SBO caused by phytobezoar in a young patient affected by opioid dependence undergoing opioid substitution treatment with methadone.