The patient was admitted to the hospital on March 6, showing symptoms of pale skin, a hardened abdomen, and loss of appetite. X-ray scans revealed signs of gastrointestinal bleeding and a massive hairball lodged in her stomach.

During surgery, doctors extracted a large, compacted hair mass filling nearly the entire stomach, weighing over 900 grams. The girl was placed on intravenous feeding after the procedure and is now in stable condition.

According to Dr. Pham Xuan Duy, head of the hospital’s Surgery Department, the patient is likely suffering from Rapunzel Syndrome, a rare psychological disorder characterized by compulsively eating hair.

"The size of this hairball suggests she may have been ingesting hair for a long time, without her family noticing," Dr. Duy explained.

He emphasized that post-surgical care should include psychological evaluation and specialized therapy to prevent recurrence.

Phuong Thuy