Abdominal sacral colpopexy resulting in a retained sponge. A case report

Area of Science:

• Urogynecology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Complications

Background:

• Abdominal sacral colpopexy corrects vaginal vault prolapse by requiring intraabdominal elevation of the vaginal cuff for suturing.
• Traditional methods using vaginal sponge sticks pose a risk of foreign body complications.

Observation:

• A patient developed chronic pelvic pain and discharge post-abdominal sacral colpopexy.
• Imaging revealed a suspected retained surgical needle in the vaginal cuff.
• Exploratory laparotomy identified a sponge fragment incorporated into the vaginal apex.

Findings:

• The retained sponge fragment was the source of the patient's complications.
• Inadvertent incorporation of surgical aids can lead to adverse events.

Implications:

• Employing an end-to-end anastomotic sizer is recommended for vaginal cuff elevation.
• This technique minimizes the risk of foreign body retention during abdominal sacral colpopexy.