From The Hindu · PTI · · 1m 40s
One kilogram of hair removed from girl's stomach
A nine-year-old in Kerala underwent surgery to remove a massive hairball caused by Rapunzel syndrome, a rare condition affecting fewer than 100 people worldwide.
In brief
A nine-year-old in Kerala underwent surgery to remove a massive hairball caused by Rapunzel syndrome, a rare condition affecting fewer than 100 people worldwide. Doctors in Thiruvananthapuram removed one kilogram of hair from a nine-year-old girl's stomach and small intestine after she was admitted with abdominal pain…
Nine-year-old admitted with stomach pain
A girl in Thiruvananthapuram was admitted to NIMS Medicity in Neyyattinkara with persistent abdominal pain and vomiting. Ultrasound and CT scans revealed severe intestinal obstruction.
Endoscopy finds massive hair mass
A subsequent endoscopy confirmed a large mass of hair accumulated in the girl's stomach and small intestine. The diagnosis was Rapunzel syndrome, an extremely rare condition.
One kilogram of hair removed
Dr Biju I G Nair, senior consultant in paediatric surgery, led a complex surgical procedure to completely remove the one kilogram hairball from the girl's stomach and small intestine.
How trichobezoars form
Dr Nair explained that a trichobezoar forms when a person repeatedly pulls out and swallows hair. The swallowed hair cannot be digested and gradually accumulates into a hard mass.
“a trichobezoar, or hairball, forms when a person repeatedly pulls out and swallows hair”
Rapunzel syndrome is extremely rare
Rapunzel syndrome is an extremely rare condition in which a trichobezoar extends from the stomach into the small intestine. It is usually seen in adolescent girls, and fewer than 100 cases have been reported worldwide.
Girl recovers and is discharged
The girl recovered well after surgery, resumed eating normally and was discharged from NIMS Medicity. The procedure was successful in removing the complete obstruction from her digestive system.
What to remember
Doctors in Thiruvananthapuram removed one kilogram of hair from a nine-year-old girl's stomach and small intestine after she was admitted with abdominal pain and vomiting caused by Rapunzel syndrome.
