Advances in pediatric surgery
- Volume 16 Issue 1
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- Pages.43-48
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- 2010
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- 2635-8778(pISSN)
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- 2635-8786(eISSN)
Laparoscopic Removal of a Gastric Trichobezoar in an 8-Year-Old Girl - a Case Report -
- Choi, Gyu-Seog (Department of Pediatric, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University) ;
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Choe, Byung-Ho
(Department of Pediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University) ;
- Park, Jin-Young (Department of Pediatric, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University)
- Received : 2010.07.28
- Accepted : 2010.08.31
- Published : 2010.06.30
Abstract
Gastric trichobezoars are commonly observed in young women with trichotillomania and trichophagia. We encountered an 8-year-old girl who had trichotillomania and trichophagia with abdominal pain and a mass, which was diagnosed as a large gastric trichobezoar. On physical examination, a huge, firm nontender mobile mass was palpated in her epigastrium. An upper gastrointestinal series and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large mass in the stomach. Endoscopic removal was tried but failed. Laparoscopic removal was therefore performed. The trichobezoar was successfully retrieved through a gastrotomy and removed through an extended umbilical trocar incision. This case demonstrates that laparoscopic removal of large gastric trichobezoars is feasible and safe without a large abdominal incision.