Nonoperative management of persimmon bezoar. A successful modification of traditional papain therapy.

The soft phytobezoars occurring in the postoperative stomach may be readily removed by enzyme digestion and manipulation. In contrast, the persimmon bezoar (diospyrobezoar) has been persistently to such treatment and has required surgical removal. Experience with unsuccessful attempts at enzyme digestion in a number of such patients led to the experimental use of a "soaking" technic which satisfactorily dissolved two of three large persimmon bezoars and shrank the remaining foreign body sufficiently so that it could be removed endoscopically by way of the esophagus. A concomitant gastric ulcer healed uneventfully on medical therapy.