Detection of retained surgical sponge by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography
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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Noninvasive Determination of Vortex Formation Time Using Transesophageal Echocardiography During Cardiac Surgery
Published on: November 28, 2018
Abstract:
We describe an unusual case of extracardiac mass in a patient who was assymptomatic and submitted to an open-chest coronary artery bypass operation 5 years previously. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a rounded mass compressing the right atrium with a thick contour surrounding a heterogeneous center, suggestive of foreign body. Magnetic resonance imaging identified the mass as a pericardial cyst. Operation revealed a fibrinous cyst encapsulating a sponge. This case illustrates the central role of echocardiography for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with suspected retained surgical sponges.
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