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Case Reports
. 2021;89(S2):90-93.
doi: 10.24875/CIRU.20001407.

Rapunzel Syndrome. A rare cause of intestinal obstruction

Dante A Saldivar-Vera  1 , Pedro A Alvarado-Bahena  1 , Enrique Chávez-Serna  1 , Jonathan Salgado-Vives  1 , Uraik F Hernández-Bustos  1
Affiliations
Free article
Case Reports

Rapunzel Syndrome. A rare cause of intestinal obstruction

Dante A Saldivar-Vera et al. Cir Cir. 2021.
Free article

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Background: Rapunzel syndrome is the formation of a trichobezoar that extends beyond the small intestine. Since its discovery few cases have been reported in the literature with variable clinical characteristics, causing important complications such as intestinal obstruction. Laparotomy is currently considered the treatment of choice.

Case report: We present the clinical case of a patient who presented with recurrent peritonitis associated with a peritoneal dialysis catheter, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, without channeling or presenting evacuations, epigastric tumor, anxiety, trichotillomania and trichophagia. Rapunzel syndrome is diagnosed and admission to the operating room is decided.

Antecedentes: El síndrome de Rapunzel es la formación de un tricobezoar que se extiende más allá del intestino delgado. Desde su descubrimiento, pocos casos se han reportado en la literatura y con características clínicas variables, provocando complicaciones importantes como obstrucción intestinal. Actualmente, la laparotomía se considera el tratamiento de elección.

Caso clínico: Paciente de sexo femenino que acude por presentar peritonitis de repetición asociada a catéter de diálisis peritoneal, anorexia, náuseas, vómito, sin canalizar ni presentar evacuaciones, tumoración en epigastrio, ansiedad, tricotilomanía y tricofagia. Se realiza el diagnóstico de síndrome de Rapunzel y se decide su ingreso a quirófano.

Keywords: Bezoar; Obstrucción; Obstruction; Trichobezoar; Trichophagia; Trichotillomania; Tricobezoar; Tricofagia; Tricotilomanía.

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