Doctors Remove 1kg Hairball From Nine-Year-Old Girl in Kerala

A nine-year-old girl in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has undergone a rare surgical procedure to remove a one-kilogram mass of hair from her stomach and small intestine. The patient was admitted to NIMS Medicity in Neyyattinkara after suffering from persistent abdominal pain and vomiting, which medical scans identified as a severe intestinal obstruction caused by a trichobezoar.

According to Mathrubhumi, diagnostic ultrasound, CT scans, and an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy confirmed a massive hairball obstructing the stomach and small intestine prior to the surgical procedure at NIMS Medicity. According to Cleveland Clinic Rapunzel Syndrome, rapunzel syndrome typically affects females ages 13 to 19.

Diagnosis of Rapunzel Syndrome

Medical professionals diagnosed the child with Rapunzel syndrome, an extremely rare condition where a trichobezoar, or hairball, extends from the stomach into the small intestine. According to hospital authorities, fewer than 100 cases of this syndrome have been documented globally. The condition is typically associated with trichophagia, the compulsive ingestion of hair, often linked to psychological factors such as anxiety or emotional stress.

According to Mathrubhumi, dr. Biju I.G. Nair emphasized that swallowed hair remains indigestible and cautioned parents that children may ingest hair in response to emotional stress or insecurity.

Surgical Intervention and Recovery

The complex surgery to extract the mass was led by Dr. Biju I.G. Nair, a senior consultant in the Department of Paediatric Surgery at NIMS Medicity. Dr. Nair explained that human hair is indigestible, leading to the gradual accumulation of a hard mass that can cause life-threatening intestinal blockages over time. Following the successful removal of the hairball, the patient recovered well, resumed normal eating habits, and has been discharged from the hospital.