Food-Induced Duodenal Obstruction Successfully Reopened By Endoscopic Treatment

Duodenal obstruction is a rare event that is unlikely to be treated endoscopically. Herein, we describe the case of a 75-year-old woman who presented with vomiting and was diagnosed with food-induced duodenal obstruction. Impacted food was fragmented and removed by double-balloon enteroscopy, and the duodenal tract was reopened without any adverse events. Follow-up capsule endoscopy was performed one month after treatment to determine the obstruction etiology and it revealed a remarkably delayed passage of the capsule through the duodenum and excessive amounts of floating food residue in the third portion of the duodenum. Obstruction recurrence was not observed six months after endoscopic treatment. In conclusion, in our case, endoscopic treatment of duodenal obstruction prevented the unnecessary performance of surgery, suggesting its clinical utility for this condition.