Citation

Duncan ND, Aitken R, Venugopal S, West W, Carpenter R. West Indian Med. J. 1994; 43(2): 63-65.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, U.W.I., Jamaica.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, University of The West Indies)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7941500

Abstract

The Rapunzel Syndrome, a rare manifestation of trichobezoar, occurs when bolus gastrointestinal obstruction is produced by an unusual trichobezoar with a long tail that extends to or beyond the ileocaecal valve. A five-year-old Jamaican girl presented with this abnormality and was found at laparotomy also to have an ileo-ileal intussusception. For the Rapunzel Syndrome, we recommend bezoar extraction at laparotomy via multiple enterotomies. In addition, psychiatric evaluation and therapy is essential due to the commonly associated finding of underlying emotional stress.

Language: en