Surgery to remove 12cm long hairball from 4 year old girl's intestine

On September 24, Soc Trang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital successfully performed surgery to remove a large hairball about 12cm long that caused intestinal obstruction in a 4-year-old girl, suspected of having Rapunzel syndrome - a rare disorder that causes the patient to pull out and swallow hair.

Large hairball removed from 4-year-old girl's intestine by doctors

The patient is TTPN (4 years old, living in Phu Loi ward, Can Tho city) who was admitted to the hospital in a state of exhaustion, poor appetite, abdominal pain, frequent vomiting and a history of intussusception. Through clinical examination, ultrasound and abdominal X-ray, the doctors diagnosed the child with intussusception and ordered emergency laparoscopic surgery.

During the surgery, the team found a 12cm long section of intestine filled with hair and food debris causing a blockage. The doctors opened the abdomen, removed the foreign object from the intestine, sutured it back together and drained the abdomen.

The baby's health is now stable, but he still needs to be monitored and cared for due to his exhausted condition.

Doctor examines 4-year-old girl after surgery

According to Dr. Chung Tan Dinh, Director of Soc Trang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, this is the second case in a short time that the hospital has successfully treated intestinal obstruction caused by hairballs in young children. Doctors recommend that parents carefully observe their children's unusual behaviors such as: frequently sucking or swallowing foreign objects, pulling hair out and putting it in their mouths, thinning hair for unknown reasons, prolonged abdominal pain, malnutrition... When detecting suspicious signs, it is necessary to take the child to a medical facility for timely examination and intervention.

TUAN QUANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/phau-thuat-lay-bui-toc-dai-12cm-trong-ruot-be-gai-4-tuoi-post814418.html