Recent medical literature contains few reports1 of esophageal obstruction resulting from ingestion of hygroscopic substances. These hygroscopic substances become swollen and spongy on the addition of water. If an insufficient quantity of water or fluid is taken after ingestion of the hygroscopic material and/or if transient spasm or constriction in the esophagus occurs, the rapidly swelling mass may become trapped. We encountered a patient with a subtotal gastric resection in whom Serutan caused an esophageal obstruction. The manufacturer of Serutan states that it is a hydrogel obtained from Plantago ovata and extracted from sugar beets from which the roughage has been removed.
Language: en
", language="en", issn="0002-9955", doi="10.1001/jama.1953.63690040002007a", url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1953.63690040002007a" }