2 kg hair ball removed from girl's stomach after surgery at KIMS Hospital

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The doctors at the KIMS Hospital removed a 2kg hairball from the stomach of a 15-year-old girl hailing from Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu.

The Class XI student sought treatment complaining of severe abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss and vomiting. An examination showed a huge lump almost filling the upper half of her abdomen.

“Initial investigations showed that her Haemoglobin level was eight and platelet count was as low at 21,000. The cause for the low blood cell counts was evaluated. A rare condition called Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was diagnosed,” the hospital officials said.

“An obstructing swelling in the stomach prevented endoscope from entering it. A CT Scan revealed a large mass of about 24cm x10cm size and it was diagnosed as Trichobezoar,” they added.

Trichobezoar was a rare condition, where a hard lump of hair is found in the stomach or intestine. Though the patient and her mother did not recollect it, this was caused due to her habit of biting hair regularly.

The patient underwent a surgery and was now stable and taking liquids by mouth.