Intestinal obstruction due to a trichobezoar

The patient attended the emergency department for abdominal pain, reduced appetite and vomiting. On palpation, the abdomen was painful in the epigastrium with a sensation of a mass on deep palpation.

Blood tests showed leukocytosis of 27,790 μL.

An abdominal CT scan was requested (Fig. 1) which reported gastric chamber distension up to 9.2 cm with a bezoar inside and another two bezoars in the jejunum causing intestinal obstruction.

Fig. 1

Surgery, gastrotomy and enterotomy confirmed the finding of a gastric trichobezoar and two intestinal trichobezoars (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2

Postoperative period favourable with discharge on the 5th day, after psychiatric evaluation.