A Rare Case of Small Bowel Obstruction Due to Sunflower Seeds Consumption in an Adult

Abstract

Small bowel obstruction can occur due to multiple etiologies, including intra-abdominal adhesions, hernias, strictures, Crohn's disease, and malignancies. An infrequent cause of small bowel obstruction can be seed bezoars. We present a case of a 72-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with a clinical picture of small bowel obstruction without any apparent risk factors for this condition. After thorough questioning, it was revealed that he had consumed a large number of sunflower seeds prior to the onset of symptoms. This eventually was proved to be the cause of his symptoms. The case is presented with the intent to highlight the necessity of acquiring dietary history in patients with high suspicion for bowel obstruction without any predisposing risk factors.

Keywords: bezoar; seed bezoar; small bowel obstruction; sunflower seeds bezoar; sunflower seeds obstruction.