Clinical Features, Risk Factors, and Endoscopic Treatment of Bezoars: A Retrospective Analysis from a Single Center in Northern China

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to summarize the clinical characteristics and risk factors for bezoars and to analyze the effectiveness and safety of the endoscopic treatment of bezoars. MATERIAL/METHODS: From January 2015 to February 2020, 75 of the 23 950 patients who underwent gastroscopic examination in our medical center were diagnosed with bezoars. Clinical and treatment information for these patients was collected retrospectively and analyzed. RESULTS: The detection rate of bezoars was 0.31%. Risk factors included the time of year (autumn and winter seasons), alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, and residing in the Mentougou district, which is rich in hawthorn and persimmon. Abdominal pain (90.7%) and bloating (80.0%) were common clinical symptoms of bezoars, while gastric mucosa erosion (90.7%) and gastric ulcers (60%) were common manifestations on endoscopic examination. Six patients with bezoars were successfully discharged after drug treatment. The success rate for bezoars treated by gastroscopic lithotripsy was 94.2% (65/69 patients). The factors affecting the therapeutic effect of bezoars include patient age (P=0.025) and bezoar size (P=0.042). Patients with bezoars larger than 9 cm were significantly more likely to have intestinal obstructions than were patients with bezoars smaller than 9 cm (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Bezoars mainly occur in elderly patients with diseases such as gastrointestinal dyspraxia and diabetes, and are most common in hawthorn and persimmon producing areas. Endoscopic treatment is safe and effective for bezoars in general, but intestinal obstruction should be considered for bezoars larger than 9 cm.