Tennis ball cord combined with endoscopy for giant gastric phytobezoar: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Due to the specificity of Chinese food types, gastric phytobezoars are relatively common in China. Most gastric phytobezoars can be removed by chemical enzyme lysis and endoscopic fragmentation, but the treatment for large phytobezoars is limited, and surgical procedures are often required for this difficult problem.

CASE SUMMARY

For giant gastric phytobezoars that cannot be dissolved and fragmented by conventional treatment, we have invented a new lithotripsy technique (tennis ball cord combined with endoscopy) for these phytobezoars. This non-interventional treatment was successful in a patient whose abdominal pain was immediately relieved, and the gastroscope-induced ulcer healed well 3 d after lithotripsy. The patient was followed-up for 8 wk postoperatively and showed no discomfort such as abdominal pain.

CONCLUSION

The combination of tennis ball cord and endoscopy for the treatment of giant gastric phytobezoars is feasible and showed high safety and effectiveness, and can be widely applied in hospitals of all sizes.

Keywords: Tennis ball cord; Endoscopy; Giant gastric phytobezoar; Case report

Core Tip: Due to the specificity of Chinese food types, gastric phytobezoars are relatively common in China. Most gastric phytobezoars can be removed by chemical enzyme lysis and endoscopic fragmentation, but the treatment for large phytobezoars is limited. We developed a new, safe, and inexpensive lithotripsy procedure for this condition using tennis ball cord combined with endoscopy. This new technique reduces the dependence on endoscopic instruments, may be more widely applied in hospitals of all sizes.