A 58-year-old woman completely edentulous man was transported to our hospital by ambulance with complaints of
abdominal pain and
vomiting. Abdominal computed tomography revealed multiple objects in the dilated ileum. An emergency
laparotomy was performed and a diagnosis of
ileus caused by ingestion of lotus root was established. We advised the patient to obtain and wear
dentures. However, she did not comply and continued to swallow food without chewing. After 11 months, she was readmitted with the same symptoms. A second emergency
laparotomy also revealed food-induced
ileus. No recurrence of food-induced
ileus has occurred after the patient agreed to wearing
dentures. When encountering patients presenting with
ileus, the patient's diet and eating habits should be verified, and the condition of the teeth at the time of diagnosis should be evaluated. Encouragement of patients to improve eating habits, along with adequate
dental care, sufficiently prevents food-induced
ileus.