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Asymptomatic chronically retained gauze in the pelvic cavity
1Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, USM, Kubang Kerina, Kelantan.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
|December 29, 2005
Summary
Surgical gauze left inside a patient for 11 years, a rare occurrence due to medico-legal concerns, was accidentally discovered via X-ray after a femoral fracture. This case highlights the infrequent but serious issue of retained surgical materials.
Area of Science:
- Medical Case Reports
- Surgical Complications
- Radiology
Background:
- Retained surgical gauze is a rare but significant medical error.
- Medico-legal and professional implications often lead to underreporting of such incidents.
- Long-term retention of surgical materials, especially beyond a decade, is exceptionally uncommon.
Observation:
- An 11-year-old case of retained surgical gauze was incidentally discovered.
- The discovery was made through a plain radiograph taken for a proximal femoral fracture.
- The patient had no prior knowledge of the retained gauze.
Findings:
- The case represents one of the longest documented periods of retained surgical gauze.
- Radiographic imaging proved effective in identifying the deeply embedded foreign object.
- A review of existing literature on retained surgical gauze cases was conducted.
Implications:
- This case underscores the critical need for meticulous surgical counts and post-operative checks.
- It highlights the potential for delayed diagnosis of retained surgical items.
- Enhanced vigilance in surgical practice is necessary to prevent such rare but serious complications.