Ahemdabad Civil Hospital doctors successfully removed a hairball, grass, and shoelace thread – medically termed as trichobezoar – from the stomach and small intestine of a 7-year-old boy.
In a rare and complex medical case, doctors in Ahmedabad successfully removed a clump of hair, grass, and a shoelace thread from the stomach and small intestine of a 7-year-old boy.
Shubham Nimana, a resident of Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam, had been suffering from severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and noticeable weight loss for the past two months. Despite undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Madhya Pradesh and incurring expenses of around Rs 2 lakh, his condition did not improve. He was then brought to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where a CT scan and endoscopy revealed an unusual mass in his gastrointestinal tract.
Medically termed a trichobezoar, the 7-year-old boy had accumulated hairball, grass, and a shoelace thread in his stomach.
Led by Professor Dr Jayshree Ramji, a team of surgeons performed an intricate exploratory laparotomy to remove the trichobezoar. The anesthesia team, headed by Professor Dr Shakuntala Goswami and Associate Professor Dr Bharat Maheshwari, ensured the child’s stability during the procedure.
Post-operation, Shubham was kept off oral intake for six days, followed by a dye test on the seventh day to confirm the complete removal of the mass. A psychiatrist also provided counseling to the child to address the behavioral aspects that contributed to the condition.
Dr Rakesh Joshi, Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, said, “Trichobezoars are extremely rare in children, with a prevalence of only 0.3–0.5%. Parents should closely monitor and address any unusual ingestion behaviors in children to prevent such life-threatening conditions.”
WHAT IS TRICHOBEZOAR?
A trichobezoar is a type of bezoar—a mass found trapped in the gastrointestinal system—primarily composed of ingested hair. It is often associated with conditions like trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling) and trichophagia (hair-eating). Trichobezoars may also include other non-digestible materials such as thread or grass.
