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Intestinal obstruction due to retained, eroding surgical sponge. Case report
1Department of Surgery, King Fahad Hospital, University Al-Khoban, Saudi Arabia.
Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica
|March 1, 1989
Summary
A surgical sponge retained after a cesarean section migrated and eroded into the bowel, causing a rare intestinal obstruction three years post-surgery. This case highlights potential long-term complications of retained surgical items.
Area of Science:
- Surgical complications
- Gastroenterology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Retained surgical items (RSIs) are a rare but serious complication in surgery.
- Cesarean sections, while common, carry a risk of unintended foreign body retention.
Observation:
- A patient presented with symptoms of bowel obstruction three years after a cesarean section.
- Imaging and clinical evaluation revealed a surgical sponge had eroded into the intestinal tract.
Findings:
- The retained surgical sponge acted as a nidus for adhesion formation and subsequent bowel erosion.
- This led to a partial small bowel obstruction, a delayed complication of a retained foreign object.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of meticulous surgical counts and postoperative surveillance for retained surgical items.
- Underscores the potential for delayed and unusual presentations of complications from retained foreign bodies.
- Emphasizes the need for heightened awareness among clinicians regarding RSIs, even years after the initial procedure.