In Rare Surgery, Kozhikode Medical College Doctors Remove Huge Hair Mass Weighing More Than 2 Kg

In a remarkable medical feat, surgeons at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital, spearheaded by Dr. Y Shajahan, have successfully extracted a massive hair mass from the stomach of a 15-year-old girl.

The young patient, hailing from Kerala”s Palakkad, had sought treatment at the outpatient department of the premier medical college in the first place, and medical professionals discovered a substantial lump in her abdomen, later identified as a trichobezoar.

Trichobezoars is an uncommon condition characterized by the accumulation of hair casts in the stomach due to trichophagia. Typically afflicting adolescent females, this condition manifests with alopecia and the presence of an upper abdominal mass, which can intermittently obstruct gastric outlets.

Dr. Shajahan, Professor in the Department of Surgery, shed light on the rarity of this condition, particularly in young individuals, often linked to heightened stress levels. Under stress, some individuals develop a habit of ingesting their own hair, which accumulates in the stomach, intertwining with food particles to form a sizable mass. This not only hampers normal food intake but also leads to malnourishment over time.

The extracted lump, weighing over 2 kg, measured 30 cm in length and 15 cm in width.

Through a meticulous procedure conducted on Tuesday, Dr. Shajahan led a skilled team comprising Dr. Vaisakh, Dr. Jerry, Dr. Rajith, Dr. Anjali, Dr. Abdul Latif, and Brother Sri Jerome, in successfully removing the cumbersome mass, offering the young patient a renewed lease on life.