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Intrapulmonary foreign body: sponge retained for 43 years
F H Taylor1, R W Zollinger, T A Edgerton
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Mercy Hospital, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Journal of Thoracic Imaging
|January 1, 1994
Summary
A retained surgical sponge was discovered in a patient's lung 43 years after a thoracotomy, causing intermittent hemoptysis. This case highlights the long-term risks of retained surgical items.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic surgery
- Medical malpractice
- Patient safety
Background:
- A patient underwent a left thoracotomy surgery 43 years prior.
- Following the surgery, the patient experienced recurrent episodes of hemoptysis (coughing up blood).
Observation:
- A subsequent thoracotomy was performed due to persistent hemoptysis.
- The surgical exploration revealed an intrapulmonary foreign body, specifically a retained surgical sponge, located in the left lower lobe of the lung.
Findings:
- The retained surgical sponge was identified as the cause of the patient's long-standing hemoptysis.
- The foreign body had remained undetected within the lung for over four decades.
Implications:
- This case underscores the critical importance of meticulous surgical counts and postoperative imaging to prevent retained surgical items.
- It highlights the potential for significant patient harm and the legal liability associated with such medical errors.
- The prolonged interval between the initial surgery and the discovery of the foreign body emphasizes the need for vigilance in long-term patient follow-up.
