Phytobezoars--an overlooked cause of small bowel obstruction following vagotomy and drainage operations for duodenal ulcer.

Phytobezoar impaction is an important cause of small bowel obstruction in patients who have had previous vagotomy and drainage procedures for duodenal ulcer. Most cases present with typical symptoms and signs of small bowel obstruction, but in some there are no definite radiological signs of bowel obstruction on plain X-ray. In these the phytobezoar is often located by barium studies.