Released gases exploded as surgeons removed a hairball from a 14 year old girl.
Because hair cannot be digested, it is necessary to remove it surgically from the gastrointestinal tract when it creates a blockage.
Surgeons were removing a decomposing hairball (trichobezoar) from a 14 year old girl when it exploded, apparently a result of the escaping gases released during the surgery.
Rapunzel Syndrome, known as trichophagia, is a rare intestinal condition resulting from eating hair.
Hair eating is associated with trichotillomania, hair pulling, an obsessive compulsive disorder, diagnosed in all age groups, but most common in adolescent females.
Read factlets by:
RSS feed
Email feed
News and blogs about this factlet:
