Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

A Mouse Model of Intestinal Partial Obstruction
Published on: March 5, 2018
Gastrointestinal trichobezoars presenting as abdominal pain and obstruction - Rapunzel syndrome
Presentation:
A 14-year-old female presented to the emergency department with a five-day history of abdominal pain and vomiting. Amylase was raised on admission and she was managed conservatively for presumed acute pancreatitis. Her condition did not improve and she deteriorated a number of days into admission and developed bilious vomiting.
Diagnosis:
CT abdomen-pelvis showed trichobezoars in the stomach and duodenum.
Treatment:
She underwent emergent laparotomy and manual removal of bezoars in a tertiary centre followed by multi-disciplinary input post-operatively.
Discussion:
Atypical abdominal pain in the paediatric population not responding to initial treatment warrants review of diagnosis and further investigation with consideration for early tertiary service input.
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