Full Breakdown
Rare Surgery Removes 1 kg Hair Mass from Kerala Girl’s Stomach and Intestine
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Core Event
A nine-year-old girl was admitted to NIMS Medicity in Neyyattinkara, Kerala, with persistent abdominal pain and vomiting. Imaging studies revealed severe intestinal obstruction, and an endoscopy confirmed a large trichobezoar extending from the stomach into the small intestine. Surgeons removed approximately one kilogram of hair in a complex operation led by Dr Biju I G Nair, senior consultant in the Department of Paediatric Surgery. The patient recovered, resumed normal eating, and was discharged.
Medical Background
Rapunzel syndrome is an extremely rare form of trichobezoar in which the hairball protrudes from the stomach into the small intestine. Hospital authorities noted that fewer than 100 cases have been reported worldwide and that the condition is typically observed in adolescent girls. Dr Nair explained that a trichobezoar forms when a person repeatedly pulls out and swallows hair; the indigestible strands accumulate, harden, and can cause intestinal blockage over time.
Surgical Team and Procedure
The operation involved a multidisciplinary team: senior paediatric surgeon Dr Rajendran S, gastroenterologist Dr Neehar, anaesthetist Dr Ijas, Dr Haseena (head of Paediatrics and Neonatology), and nursing staff member Sreekutty. The mass was extracted through an open surgical approach after confirming the extent of the hairball via ultrasound, CT scan, and endoscopy.
Recovery and Outcome
Post-operative reports indicated that the girl recovered well, began eating normally shortly after surgery, and was discharged without complications. Hospital officials emphasized the successful removal of the entire hair mass and the patient’s return to regular diet as indicators of a positive outcome.
Significance
The case underscores the challenges of diagnosing and treating rare gastrointestinal disorders in children. It also highlights the importance of coordinated specialist care in managing complex surgical cases, especially when the condition is scarcely documented in medical literature.