Doctors in Ecuador successfully removed a massive two-pound hairball from the stomach of a 24-year-old woman. The procedure, lasting 45 minutes, relieved the patient of a life-threatening condition caused by the giant bezoar.
The medical team at Verdi Cevallos Balda General Hospital detailed the extraordinary case. The woman had been experiencing severe stomach pain, frequent vomiting, and increasing difficulty eating and drinking for at least two years, leading to significant weight loss. The hairball, or trichobezoar, had grown so large it could be felt externally.
The hairy bezoar extracted from the womanAlt: A large, two-pound hairball, or trichobezoar, removed from a woman’s stomach in Ecuador.
Measuring 16 inches in length and weighing two pounds, the hairball filled her entire stomach cavity and was beginning to extend into her intestines. Lead surgeon Pedro Lovato stated that the mass was palpable even from the outside.
The large bezoar inside the woman's stomach, as seen in a medical scan.Alt: Medical scan showing the large bezoar occupying the woman’s entire stomach cavity.
While the hospital’s report doesn’t elaborate on the cause of the hair ingestion, Lovato mentioned the woman had a diagnosed “psychoemotional” condition. This points towards trichophagia, a disorder characterized by the compulsive eating of hair. This condition, often linked to trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling), can lead to the formation of hairballs in the digestive system, sometimes referred to as Rapunzel Syndrome.
Trichophagia and its associated complications, like the formation of large bezoars, can have severe consequences. The growing mass can obstruct the digestive tract, causing malnutrition, dehydration, and potentially life-threatening complications.
The timely surgery not only addressed the immediate threat of starvation but also prevented potential damage to the woman’s stomach. She was discharged and is currently receiving comprehensive follow-up care.
The successful removal of this massive hairball highlights the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in cases of trichophagia. While relatively rare, such cases underscore the need for awareness and understanding of this and other related eating disorders.
