Rapunzel syndrome: a rare postpartum case.
Teshome Tegene1, Yahia Foda, Omar Hussain
1Department of Internal Medicine, Prince George's Hospital Center, 3001 Hospital Drive, Cheverly, MD 20785, USA.
Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine
|October 31, 2013
Summary
Rapunzel syndrome, a rare disorder causing gastrointestinal obstruction from swallowed hair, requires surgical removal of the trichobezoar. This case highlights its occurrence in a postpartum woman.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Rapunzel syndrome is a rare condition involving a trichobezoar extending from the stomach into the small intestine.
- It results from significant hair ingestion, leading to gastrointestinal obstruction due to indigestible hair.
- Symptoms are often nonspecific, mimicking common gastrointestinal issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss a unique case of Rapunzel syndrome.
- To highlight the diagnostic considerations for this rare condition.
- To present findings in a one-month postpartum woman.
Main Methods:
- Case report presentation.
- Review of clinical presentation and diagnostic challenges.
- Surgical intervention for mass removal.
Main Results:
- A case of Rapunzel syndrome in a postpartum woman is detailed.
- The condition presented with symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction.
- Surgical removal of the trichobezoar was successfully performed.
Conclusions:
- Rapunzel syndrome, though rare, should be considered in cases of gastrointestinal obstruction, especially after excluding common causes.
- Association with psychiatric disorders is noted, with a predilection for young women.
- This case underscores the importance of considering unusual etiologies in postpartum patients.
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