Journal of Education and Teaching in Emergency Medicine

Abdominal pain is one of the most common presenting complaints in emergency medicine. This case report summarizes a 61-year-old male with worsening abdominal pain and no bowel movement for multiple days. Computer tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a large intraluminal mass at the anastomosis, concerning for a bezoar formation, with associated stercoral colitis and partial bowel obstruction. The patient was subsequently admitted to the general surgery service for further management. During hospitalization, the patient’s stool burden improved with osmotic laxatives, and he underwent a colonoscopy. The patient was discharged with outpatient follow-up. This report will help inform management in a patient with a history of colon cancer presenting with a large bowel obstruction post-colectomy.