[A residual gauze after cardiac surgery].

Area of Science:

• Medical Case Reports
• Surgical Complications
• Radiology

Background:

• Gossypiboma is a rare but significant surgical complication.
• It involves the accidental retention of surgical gauze within a patient.
• This can lead to delayed diagnosis and potential complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of gossypiboma presenting years after surgery.
• To emphasize diagnostic challenges and management strategies.
• To underscore the importance of preventative measures in surgery.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a 45-year-old patient with delayed presentation of gossypiboma.
• Initial diagnostic workup including ECG, blood tests, chest X-ray, and CT scan.
• Decision for conservative management due to surgical risks.

Main Results:

• A chest X-ray revealed a mass with a radio-opaque marker.
• CT confirmed the mass as retained surgical gauze (gossypiboma).
• The patient was managed conservatively with pain relief.

Conclusions:

• Gossypiboma requires a broad differential diagnosis, even with potential external factors.
• Thorough surgical counts and radio-opaque markers are crucial preventative measures.
• Early detection through imaging is vital for appropriate patient management.