Food entrapped in papilla of Vater: uncommon cause of vomiting

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 82; no. 6; pp. 488 - 489
• Main Authors: Falchetti, D, Pedersini, P, Rigamonti, W, Salucci, P, Caccia, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01.06.2000; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Ampulla of Vater; Biological and medical sciences; Children; Duodenal Obstruction - diagnosis; Duodenal Obstruction - etiology; Endoscopy; Endoscopy, Digestive System; Female; Food; Foreign Bodies - complications; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gastrointestinal tract; General and Specialist Paediatrics; Humans; Infant; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; papilla of Vater; Vomiting; Vomiting - etiology; Human; Case study; Etiology; Vomiting; Digestive diseases; Female; Infant; Foreign body; Vater ampulla; Food
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.82.6.488

CASE REPORT A 20 month old girl was admitted for intractable vomiting over several days, with no other symptoms. Family and personal history were not contributive. Clinical and neurological examination, and routine blood tests and investigations (plain abdominal x ray, upper gastrointestinal tract contrast study, abdominal ultrasonography) were normal. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a mild antral gastritis and the second portion of duodenum was occupied by a tough, fibrous mass partially embedded into the papilla of Vater. The foreign body was removed and proved to be vegetable fibre (pineapple). Symptoms subsided immediately and the child was discharged with gastroprotective therapy. After two months, on endoscopic examination, the signs of gastropathy had cleared; the papilla of Vater was undamaged, but unchomped food debris was again found in the duodenum. DISCUSSION There are sporadic reports of foreign bodies retained into the papilla of Vater, all of them in adults. This child, though her papilla was tiny, had no jaundice or pancreatitis, unlike most of the reported cases. This is the first report of this finding in a child. The cause of the vomiting was not shown on abdominal ultrasonography or contrast study. It should be added to the list of unusual causes of vomiting.