Trichobezoars in children: therapeutic complications

A. Mariotto; M. Peretti; G. ScirÃ¨; A. Mantovani; S. Zambaldo; E. Pani; F. Saverio Camoglio; L. Giacomello

doi:10.4081/pmc.2014.101

Authors

A. Mariotto

Surgical Pediatrics Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Italy.

M. Peretti

Surgical Pediatrics Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Italy.

G. ScirÃ¨

Surgical Pediatrics Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Italy.

A. Mantovani

Surgical Pediatrics Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Italy.

S. Zambaldo

Surgical Pediatrics Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Italy.

E. Pani

Surgical Pediatrics Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Italy.

F. Saverio Camoglio

Surgical Pediatrics Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Italy.

L. Giacomello

giacomelloluca@hotmail.com

Surgical Pediatrics Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Italy.

Trichobezoars are concretions formed by the accumulation of hair or fibers in the gastrointestinal tract, usually associated with underlying psychiatric disorders in females between 13 and 20 years old. Endoscopy, the gold standard for diagnosis, brings some additional advantages: sample taking, size reducing and, rarely, mass removal. This study shows that endoscopy can cause severe complications resulting in a surgical emergency.