Management of trichobezoar: case report and literature review

Trichobezoars (hair ball) are usually located in the stomach, but may extend through the pylorus into the duodenum and small bowel (Rapunzel syndrome). They are almost always associated with trichotillomania and trichophagia or other psychiatric disorders. In the literature several treatment options are proposed, including removal by conventional laparotomy, laparoscopy and endoscopy. We present our experience with four patients and provide a review of the recent literature. According to our experience and in line with the published results, conventional laparotomy is still the treatment of choice. In addition, psychiatric consultation is necessary to prevent relapses

Endoscopic Obliteration of Fundal Varices

In cases of portal hypertension, the fundus of the stomach is second to the esophagus as the most likely area for varices, at a frequency of about 10%, in all patients having esophageal varices. It is relatively rare, probably due to the individual vascular anatomy rather than the level of portal pressure. The authors' experience shows that fundal varices appear more frequently with prehepatic block than intrahepatic