Gossypiboma: the hidden surgical threat - delayed diagnosis and management

Gossypiboma (retained surgical sponge) is a rare, unwanted, avoidable and embarrassing medical event that can complicate the favourable evolution of any surgery. It is a rare but serious complication seldom reported due to its medicolegal implications. Gossypiboma increases the cost of treatment, negatively affects the otherwise good prognosis of the index surgery, and also increases the patient's morbidity and mortality.It can occur after any surgery that requires the use of swabs. Intra-abdominal gossypiboma can migrate into the ileum, stomach, colon or bladder without any apparent opening in the wall of these luminal organs.We present an exceptionally rare case of a retained surgical sponge that had transmigrated into the ileum in a patient who had undergone a caesarean section. She presented 1½ years later with vomiting after solid foods and significant weight loss. During laparotomy, the sponge was successfully retrieved from the small intestine.