The Mistakes of Surgeons: “Gossypiboma”

Abstract

Purpose: A foreign body retained in the abdominal cavity following surgery is a serious and medicolegal problem. To emphasize the importance of this operative iatrogenic complication, we reviewed our experience with six patients who had retained abdominal gossypibomas.

Methods: The records of six patients with a confirmed diagnosis of gossypiboma after abdominal surgery at Dicle University Hospital, between January 1994 and December 2000, were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Four of the six patients were female and two male. Previously, of the patients, three underwent elective operations and three were operated on for emergency. Types of previous operation were gynaecological in three cases, gastrointestinal in two cases and hepatobiliary in one case. The most common symptoms were mass, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and pain. The intestinal obstructions and pseudotumoral syndrome were determined in three and two cases, respectively. Abdominal ultrasonography clearly demonstrated the gossypiboma in four of our patients and CT demonstrated a more precise image of forgotten surgical sponges in the other two patients. One patient died due to ventricular fibrillation, the other five patients were discharged healthfully.

Conclusion: Small sponges should not be used during laparotomy. Compresses should only be used intraperitoneally, one by one, mounted on a forceps. Before closing the peritoneum, the surgeon should completely explore the abdominal cavity.

Key words:

• Gossypiboma
• surgical sponges

Additional information

Notes on contributors

M. Aldemir

M. Aldemir Dicle Universitesi, Tip Fakültesi ILK ve ACIL YARDIM ABD. TUR-21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey. Tel.: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [email protected]