Surgery removes 500 grams of hair from the stomach of a 6-year-old patient.

According to Nguyen Dinh Tuyen, Director of Quang Ngai Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, doctors from the Surgery Department, in coordination with the Anesthesia and Resuscitation Surgery Department, successfully performed surgery to remove a 500-gram hairball from the stomach of a 6-year-old patient.

On the afternoon of December 8th, this child was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain and a weak physical condition. An ultrasound revealed a large tumor in the epigastric region. After an endoscopy, the tumor in the child's stomach was confirmed to be a large ball of hair.

Doctors performed laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia. As a result, a very large, tightly coiled ball of hair, weighing approximately 500 grams, that occupied almost the entire stomach of the child was removed. The surgery was successful. The child is currently being monitored.

Doctors say the child suffers from Rapunzel Syndrome – a rare psychological disorder that causes sufferers to pull out and eat their own hair. This syndrome is more common in girls, especially those before they start first grade.

The family said the child had a habit of pulling out the hair of adults in the house and putting it in her mouth to suck and chew. Initially, the family thought it was just children playing and didn't pay attention. Recently, the child complained of persistent stomach pain, so the family took her to the doctor and discovered the problem.

Although people with this syndrome can eat and drink normally, prolonged hair swallowing can lead to reflux, intestinal obstruction, stomach ulcers, and even life-threatening conditions. People with this syndrome often experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and rapid weight loss.

According to Nguyen Dinh Tuyen, Director of Quang Ngai Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, people suffering from this disorder are mainly treated with surgery, psychological therapy, and micronutrient supplements to prevent the recurrence of hair-eating behavior.

Rapunzel syndrome is very rare. Therefore, if adults discover their children putting hair in their mouths, they must stop them and take the child to a medical facility for examination. Parents of children with this syndrome need to participate in treatment with doctors to help their children break the habit of eating hair, doctors advise.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phau-thuat-lay-500gram-toc-trong-da-day-benh-nhi-6-tuoi-post1081927.vnp