Intrahepatic Gossypiboma as a Complication of Cholecystectomy: A Case Report

We present the case of a 75-year-old woman with a history of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which was converted to an open procedure due to intraoperative hemorrhage. Two weeks later, she underwent reintervention to address a subhepatic hematoma. Over a follow-up period of 19 months, she remained symptomatic, experiencing persistent purulent discharge from the surgical drain site, mild fever, and abdominal pain. A CT scan revealed a gossypiboma, and following a failed surgical exploration, the patient was referred to a specialized center. A fourth surgical exploration identified an abscess in the abdominal wall and multiple abscesses within the liver, one of which contained an intrahepatic gossypiboma. Postoperative care involved a levofloxacin-based antibiotic regimen, leading to a favorable clinical outcome. This case represents an instance of a gossypiboma becoming fully internalized within the hepatic parenchyma following non-traumatic surgery.