A case of food-induced ileus due to “mochi” rice cakes treated by conservative therapy

Abstract

We report a case of food-induced ileus due to the ingestion of “mochi” rice cakes treated conservatively. A 39-year-old woman complained of increasing abdominal pain and distension for 3 days. Abdominal plain CT showed 4 areas of high density in the stomach, and 1 area of high density in the ileal end of the intestine ; impaction to the ileum-end and extension of the oral side of the small intestinal cavity were noted. Based on these results and a detailed history a food-induced ileus related to “mochi” rice cakes was diagnosed. Since there were no signs of peritoneal irritation or inflammatory findings on laboratory tests, the patient was treated conservatively ; scopolamine butylbromide (Buscopan^®) and digestive enzyme preparation (Beritym^®) were used. The abdominal pain gradually decreased and disappeared ; 2 days after starting of the conservative therapy the abdominal CT showed that the high density areas located in the stomach and the ileal end of the intestine had disappeared ; ileal findings diminished, and expansion of the small intestine had decreased.
It was not difficult to establish the diagnosis of the food-induced ileus due to “mochi” rice cakes on admission. Conservative therapy involving scopolamine butylbromide and a digestive enzyme preparation was successful in treating food-induced ileus due to “mochi” rice cakes.