Basra: A large hairball was found in a young woman’s stomach; surgeons at Al-Shifa General Hospital in Basra successfully removed it and saved her life. A medical team at Al-Shifa General Hospital in Basra Governorate successfully saved the life of a 26-year-old patient through a delicate and complex surgical procedure to remove a large mass of hair, medically known as “Benzwar’s syndrome” or Rapunzel syndrome, which occupied the entire stomach cavity and extended into the small intestine.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Basra Health Department stated in a press release: “The patient was admitted to the hospital suffering from severe and chronic abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, an inability to eat, and significant and abnormal weight loss. After conducting the necessary clinical and imaging examinations, including CT scans and endoscopy, a massive mass of hair entangled with food remnants was discovered, forming a complete obstruction preventing the passage of food.”

The head of the medical team, surgeon Dr. Haider Kadhim Al-Tamimi, explained that this case is considered very rare and delicate due to the enormous size and tortuous shape of the mass. He pointed out that it required immediate and highly precise surgical intervention to avoid a perforation of the stomach wall or a complete intestinal obstruction that would threaten the patient’s life.

Al-Tamimi added that the operation lasted approximately three continuous hours and was completely successful thanks to the efforts of the entire operating room staff, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses. He stated, “The entire mass was removed without complications, and the patient is currently receiving the necessary medical care after her condition stabilized, in preparation for her discharge from the hospital.”