A case of intra-abdominal gossypiboma diagnosed preoperatively by endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle-aspiration.

Gossypiboma is an extremely rare adverse event occurring post-surgery, where surgical gauze is left within the body. If aseptically retained, it can lead to the formation of granulation tissue through chronic inflammation and adhesion with surrounding tissues, potentially persisting asymptomatically for many years. While diagnosis of this condition has been reported through various imaging modalities such as abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography, cases not presenting with typical findings are difficult for preoperative diagnosis, and instances where it is discovered postoperatively exist. Particularly when in contact with the gastrointestinal tract within the abdominal cavity, differentiation from submucosal tumors of the digestive tract becomes problematic. This report describes the imaging characteristics of endoscopic ultrasound and the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasound-fine-needle-aspiration for tissue diagnosis in the preoperative diagnosis of intra-abdominal gossypiboma.

Intravesical textiloma mistook for bladder stone: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Intravesical textiloma is a rare surgical complication, that may cause nonspecific lower urinary tract symptoms. Clinicians should consider it in patients with a history of bladder surgery and persistent or new-onset urinary symptoms. Abstract: Intravesical textiloma is a rare condition usually presents asymptomatic or with non specific symptoms. A 72 years old man with prior open prostatectomy presented lower urinary tract symptoms and diagnosed with bladder stones, explorative laparotomy revealed semi calcified gauze. Similar history should prompt suspicion of this condition.

Giant gossypiboma presenting as a pelvic mass.

Gossypiboma is a foreign object, such as a mass of cotton matrix or a sponge, that is left behind in a body cavity during surgery. It is uncommon, mostly asymptomatic, and hard to diagnose. It may be incorrectly diagnosed preoperatively, which can lead to unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures and operations. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of soft-tissue masses detected in patients with a history of a prior operation. We present a case of 36-year-old female who referred to emergency room with severe abdominal pain and distension. Imaging revealed a giant intra-abdominal mass resembling a soft tissue tumor, but revealed to be a giant gossypiboma caused by a sponge that was forgotten during previous ectopic pregnancy surgery. This case differs from others with the absence of findings supporting gossypiboma such as calcification or trapped gas bubbles and emphasizes the importance of this potentially life-threatening complication of surgery.

Exploring Risk, Antecedents and Human Costs of Living with a Retained Surgical Item: A Narrative Synthesis of Australian Case Law 1981-2018.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to critically examine the circumstances contributing to, and the human costs arising from, the retention of surgical items through the lens of Australian case law. DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We reviewed Australian cases from 1981 to 2018 to establish a pattern of antecedents and identify long-term patient impacts (human costs) of retained surgical items. We used a modified four-step process to conduct a systematic review of legal doctrine, combined with a narrative synthesis approach to bring the information together for understanding. We searched LexisNexis, AustLII, Coroner Court websites, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Tribunal Decisions and Panel Hearings, Civil and Administrative Tribunal summaries, and other online sources for publicly available civil cases, medical disciplinary cases, coronial cases, and criminal cases across all Australian jurisdictions. RESULTS: Ten cases met the inclusion criteria, including one coronial case, three civil appeal cases, and six civil first instance cases. Time from item retention to discovery ranged from 12 days to 20 years, with surgical sponges the most frequently retained item. Five case reports indicated possible deviations from standard protocols regarding counting procedures and record-keeping. In the four cases that reported on count status, the count was deemed correct at the end of surgery. Case reports also showed the human costs of retained surgical items, that is, the long-term impacts on patients associated with a retained surgical item. In eight of the nine civil cases, ongoing pain was the most frequently reported physical symptom; in three cases, patients suffered psychosocial symptoms requiring treatment. CONCLUSION: While there was little uniformity in the items retained or how items came to be retained, we identified significant time delays between item retention and item discovery, coupled with long-lasting physical and psychosocial harms suffered by patients living with a retained surgical item. Current prevention strategies, including national standards-based professional practices, are not always effective in preventing retained surgical items. An internationally standardised taxonomy and reporting criteria, more consistent reporting, and open access to event and risk data could inform a more accurate global estimate of risk and incidence of this hospital-acquired complication.

Gossypiboma - Successful retrieval through laparoscopy: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous complications can occur after a surgery, but gossypiboma is undoubtedly the most unwanted and undesirable complication of a procedure for any surgeon with legal implications. Once suspected, the minimally invasive surgical approach should be considered for its management. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An adult P1L1E1 female presented to the surgery OPD with a painless abdominal mass which progressively increased in size in the past 4 months. She underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy 6 months back at some other health centre. On computed tomography scan of the abdomen, a well-defined heterogenous cystic lesion of size 9.8 cm × 9.2 cm × 7 cm was noted intraperitoneally. Few air foci with a hyperdense tubular structure within the lesion were seen, suggestive of a retained surgical sponge with its radio-opaque marker also visualised. The retained sponge was successfully retrieved by the laparoscopic approach. DISCUSSION: Traditionally, the open approach for the removal of the sponge was more accepted compared to the laparoscopic approach. This was due to the belief that intense foreign body reaction and dense adhesions around the sponge may make the laparoscopic approach difficult. However, laparoscopy can prove to be beneficial with its advantages of early ambulation, reduced post-op pain, cosmetically improved results and shorter length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: All precautions must be taken to avoid retention of surgical sponge post-surgery. Case reports in which laparoscopy is used to retrieve gossypiboma are rare. The authors recommend the use of laparoscopy as a therapeutic option in the event of such mishaps.

Gossypiboma with perforation of the umbilicus mimicking a complicated urachal cyst: a case report.

BACKGROUND: A retained surgical sponge, also known as a gossypiboma, is a rare cause of serious postoperative complications. Diverse retained surgical materials including instruments such as clamps and sutures have been reported, but surgical sponges are the most common material. We report an unusual case of a gossypiboma mimicking a complicated urachal cyst that led to perforation of the umbilicus. CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old female patient presented in our facility with a palpable periumbilical mass and discharge of pus from the umbilicus for 7 months after an open appendectomy. Since the onset of symptoms, the patient had been treated conservatively in a peripheral hospital where she had been operated on. As no improvement was seen, an ultrasound scan was performed that suggested an intraperitoneal abscess adjacent to the umbilicus. Consequently, the patient was referred to our specialist outpatient department for surgical intervention. Suspecting a complicated urachal cyst, an exploratory laparotomy was performed but revealed a retained surgical sponge as the underlying cause. The gossypiboma was resected, and the postoperative period was unremarkable. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that gossypibomas, even though rare, continue to occur. They may clinically and radiologically mimic other pathologies, especially abscesses and tumors. Preventive measures as well as the inclusion of gossypibomas in the differential diagnosis of intraabdominal masses or fistulation detected in patients with a history of surgery are of utmost importance to minimize morbidity, mortality, and potential medicolegal implications.

Oh, My Gauze !!!- A rare case report of laparoscopic removal of an incidentally discovered gossypiboma during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

INTRODUCTION: The work has been reported in line with the SCARE criteria. The most common retained foreign body during surgery is woven cotton surgical sponge, which includes both laparotomy pads and smaller sponges. Sponges are easily retained because of their ubiquitous use, relatively small size and when soaked in blood, sponges conform to and can be difficult to distinguish from surrounding tissues. The problem of retained surgical sponge is known as gossypiboma, and also as 'textiloma', 'gauzoma' or 'muslinoma'. The number of preoperatively diagnosed cases treated by laparoscopic approach is rare in the literature and laparoscopic removal of incidentally detected gossypiboma with concomitant laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not yet reported in the literature. PRESENTATION OF CASE: In 40-year-old female with caesarean section 5 years ago, now during elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and umbilical hernia repair, an incidentally detected Gossypiboma was encountered. The Gossypiboma was safely excised by laparoscopic technique followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open hernia repair. DISCUSSION: Postoperative complications following surgery are common and mostly unavoidable but some like the gossypiboma are infrequent and avoidable. Most of them are asymptomatic and present in the body for a long period of time. However, once discovered these foreign bodies must be removed for which laparoscopy proves to be a better approach. Most of these cases also are under-reported due to medicolegal implications. CONCLUSION: Gossypiboma is one of the preventable complications of surgery by the compliance of certain measures perioperatively. If detected incidentally, it can be safely managed laparoscopically with a shorter post-operative hospital stay and better cosmetic results.

Gossypiboma penetrating into the small intestine similar to Meckel's diverticulum: a report and literature review.

Foreign body granuloma due to retained surgical sponge (gossypiboma) with penetration into the small intestine is very rare. Cases of gossypiboma in the abdominal cavity have sometimes been reported, yet the correct incidence has not been determined, only estimated to occur in one of every 1,000 to 1,500 intra-abdominal operations. Acute abdomen may be observed in some cases, requiring treatment. We herein introduce the case of a 70-year-old woman with gossypiboma penetrating into the small intestine presented with anemia and hematochezia. She had a history of emergency laparotomy for ectopic pregnancy several decades ago. A dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a hypovascular mass containing air bubbles that continued to the small intestine approximately 50 mm in size in the right lower abdomen. In addition to describing the presentation and outcome of our patient, we review the image findings of gossypiboma.

Gossypiboma: A Case Series and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Gossypiboma (retained surgical sponge) is a rare medical event. It could cause a serious complication that can threaten patients' life. Its diagnosis is usually difficult because the clinical symptoms are nonspecific and the imaging findings are often inconclusive. CASE PRESENTATIONS: We present two cases, a 32 years old woman who passed a retained surgical sponge via rectum 5 months after cesarean section and a 30 years old lady presented with an acute abdomen that later found to have localized right lower quadrant abscess with a retained surgical sponge. CONCLUSION: The most important approach to reduce the incidence of gossypiboma is prevention. At the end of the surgery, a correct count is always the gold standard safeguard against it. Although errors are not to be completely avoided, continuous CPD and strict adherence to rules of the operating room will reduce its incidence to a minimum.

Abdominal Intraluminal Gossypiboma: Demographics, Predictors of Intraluminal Site, Diagnostic and Treatment Measures.

OBJECTIVE: Intra-abdominal gossypiboma may present with variable clinical presentations. The clinical picture that the patient presents with depends on the site of the retained gauze in the abdomen, with transmural migration leading to intraabdominal gauze being a rare occurrence. We systemically analyze articles and reports related to the transmural migration of gossypiboma. In addition, we report a case of ileal transmigration of gossypiboma in a 53-year-old female. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted using Embase and Medline for articles pertaining to transmural migration of gossypiboma. Three of the authors extracted the data from the selected studies that relate to the topic. All articles included were in English language and published in peer-reviewed journals. This study was conducted according to the guidelines set out by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. RESULTS: A total of 93 cases of intraluminal gossypiboma were found in the literature. The mean age of the patients was 40.4 years and females (77.7%) were affected more than males. The obstetric and gynecologic surgeries were the leading causative operation (41.5%). However, cholecystectomy is the most common single surgery associated with intraluminal gossypiboma. The mean time from the causative operation was 35.16 months. Most patients presented as intestinal obstruction. CT scan was the most sensitive tool to detect any non-specific finding while the endoscopic interventions were the most specific. Ileum is the most common site for intraluminal for migration. Intra-gastric location is related mostly to the hepato-biliary operations. Laparotomy with segmental resection provides a primary treatment and cure. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should keep the possibility of gossypiboma, including intraluminal, in their mind when a patient presents with abdominal pain, signs of infection, intestinal obstruction, or a palpable mass any time after abdominal surgery. Measures for prevention and education are the most useful tool to avoid such complications.

Maxillofacial Gossypiboma: Case Report, Review of the Literature, and Diagnosis Algorithm.

Gossypiboma is a retained surgical sponge and represents a rare complication with an uncertain incidence probably due to medical-legal implications. It is an iatrogenic condition solely due to human factors. While the medical literature has previously described cases of this entity after orthopedic, abdominal, otorhinolaryngology, and plastic surgery procedures, gossypibomas in oral and maxillofacial region are uncommon. It can mimic neoplasms or other injuries, which may promote a delayed diagnosis; thus, the differential diagnosis should be based on clinical history in each particular case. Although there are no pathognomonic features of gossypiboma in oral and maxillofacial region, the most common symptoms suggestive of persistent inflammation include pain, fever, swelling, surgical wounds that do not heal, and purulent drainage. The aim of this study was to report a maxillofacial gossypiboma misdiagnosed as third molar surgery-related odontogenic infection and a diagnosis algorithm.

Sonographic appearances of retained surgical sponges in the abdomen and pelvis.

PURPOSE: To describe the sonographic (ultrasound-US) features of retained surgical sponges (RSSs) and compare them with the pathological findings. METHODS: Ultrasound features of RSSs in nine patients (seven women and two men) identified between June 1996 and July 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Patient characteristics including gender and age, location of the sponge, time interval until diagnosis, clinical presentation, and patient complaints were evaluated. RESULTS: The US appearances of RSSs could be classified into three types. Type I (five cases): an echogenic arc with a strong posterior shadow; type II (two cases): US appearance mimicked a cystic teratoma; type III (two cases): a cystic mass with zigzag-shaped internal contents. CT and/or MRI showed a mass with density/signal intensity similar to that of the adjacent soft tissues. CONCLUSION: The characteristic US findings along with a history of surgery can help reach a correct diagnosis of RSS.

Gossypiboma (retained surgical sponge) induces septic shock after previous breast surgery: A case report.

Foreign body granuloma caused by retained surgical sponge is also called gossypiboma or textiloma, is mostly described in the abdominal cavity, with only a very few cases of retained surgical sponges located in breasts. A 48-year-old female came to our emergency department due to shortness of breath with consciousness disturbance. Sixteen years previously, she had gone through modified radical mastectomy. Eight years later, she received breast reconstruction. At emergency department, her hemodynamic status was unstable. Besides, there was one mass lesion with abscess in the right axillary region, and percutaneous abscess drainage was performed. She was sent to the medical intensive care unit for further care of septic shock. Because her symptoms and signs did not improve, we decided to perform fasciectomy and surprisingly found one retained surgical sponge in her breast. After the operation, she recovered well and the wound was stable. Due to limited literature available, we present a case of gossypiboma in the breast with a clinical manifestation of septic shock.

Transmigration of a retained surgical sponge: a case report.

BACKGROUND: A retained surgical sponge remains a dreaded complication of modern surgery. Despite the increasing focus on patient safety instances of "a sponge being left in the abdomen", are all too common in popular media. In this article we report the rare phenomenon of transmigration of a retained surgical sponge in a patient who underwent laparoscopic sterilization. CASE PRESENTATION: A 30-year-old female presented with progressive abdominal pain for about one month and vomiting with obstipation for 2 days. The patient had undergone laparoscopic sterilization 7 years back and then underwent re-canalization one year back. She underwent an exploratory laparotomy for suspected adhesive small bowel obstruction. During surgery, an intra-luminal surgical sponge was recovered from the distal small bowel. The patient recovered and was discharged in good health. CONCLUSION: Despite numerous advances in terms of technology and the ever-growing emphasis on patient safety, the problem of a retained surgical sponge remains a dreaded potential complication. All clinicians and health care professionals should be aware of this entity and its various presentations.

Retention of Nonabsorbable Hemostatic Materials (Retained Surgical Sponge, Gossypiboma, Textiloma, Gauzoma, Muslinoma) After Spinal Surgery: A Systematic Review of Cases Reported During the Last Half-Century.

OBJECTIVE: Retention of nonabsorbable hemostatic materials (RNHMs), that is, retained surgical sponge, gauzoma, gossypiboma, muslinoma, or textiloma, is a rarely seen surgical complication after spinal surgery that may remain asymptomatic for many years and may represent a diagnostic difficulty with associated medicolegal implications. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the English-language literature published between 1965 and 2017, accessed through 4 popular databases. We found a total of 37 articles (24 case reports; 7 image presentations; 5 clinical series, and 1 letter to editor) containing 58 cases of RNHMs located within the spinal canal or around the spinal column after surgery. RESULTS: In this study, there were 29 female and 29 male patients from 13 countries, ages ranging from 17 years to 87 years, with initial diagnoses of lumbar or cervical disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis (n = 54), or spinal tumor (n = 4). The interval from the initial surgery to the presentation of RNHMs ranged from 13 days to 40 years, with a mean of 75.9 months. Various imaging techniques such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were used with histologic study, confirming the presence of RNHMs in the majority of patients with a complete recovery resulting in 93% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: RNHMs is an overreported entity in underdeveloped or developing countries, including Turkey and Morocco, with progression occurring over years. RNHMs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient who presents with back pain, spinal cord, or nerve roots symptomatology after spinal surgery.

Migratory Gossypiboma: An Unusual Presentation Of A Rare Surgical Complication.

Gossypiboma is a rare surgical complication associated with significant patient morbidity and even mortality. Migratory gossypiboma is a rarer subset of these cases, representing the erosion of surgical sponge into the intestine with consequent complications. A 40 years old female presented with a surgical sponge that had eroded into the caecum and subsequently moved with peristalsis up to the anal canal from which it was protruding out at the time of presentation. Proper checking before surgical closure can prevent this serious potentially lifethreatening complication.

Urinary Retention as the Only Symptom of Retained Surgical Sponge (Gossypiboma), 29 Years After Cesarean Procedure.

A 68 year old lady presented to urology department suffering from acute urinary retention. The U/S revealed hydronephrosis in left kidney and a mass at the left side of the small pelvis which pushed forward the uterus and the bladder. The CT scan confirmed a mixed (solid and cystic) mass, with diameter of 12 cm with interpretation of the left ovary. The patient underwent laparotomy and the mass was excised after a difficult dissection due to severe adhesion with the bowel. The well-capsulated mass was a retained surgical sponge. The patient had undergone cesarean procedure 29 years ago.

Compresa quirúrgica retenida posterior a cesárea electiva / Retained textiloma after elective cesarean section

La compresa quirúrgica retenida o textiloma es el resultado de un error quirúrgico poco frecuente y evitable. Se ha reportado que la incidencia es 1 por cada 1 000 a 15 000 cirugías intraabdominales. La compresa quirúrgica retenida puede causar graves complicaciones que llevan hasta la muerte. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 26 años quien llegó por dolor abdominal. Tenía un antecedente quirúrgico de cesárea 20 meses antes. Durante la laparotomía, se encontró una compresa quirúrgica retenida a 25 centímetros de la válvula ileocecal, que fue resecada en bloque. Aunque rara en la práctica diaria, se debe considerar la retención de compresas intraperitoneales en pacientes que se presentan con síntomas abdominales complejos posteriores a una cirugía abdominal previa.

Retained surgical swab or textiloma is an infrequent but avoidable result of surgical error. The reported incidence is 1 in 1 000 to 15 000 intraabdominal surgeries. A retained surgical swab may cause serious complications and may lead to death. We present the case of a 26 year-old woman who was seen for abdominal pain. Her surgical history included a cesarean section 20 months ago. During laparotomy, a retained surgical sponge located 25 centimeters from the ileocecal valve was found and resected en bloc. Although rare in daily practice, a retained intraperitoneal swab body should be considered in patients with complex abdominal symptoms following a history of abdominal surgery.

The Hidden Costs of Reconciling Surgical Sponge Counts.

Retained surgical sponges are serious adverse events that can result in negative patient outcomes. The primary method of prevention is the sponge count. Searching for sponges to reconcile counts can result in inefficient use of OR time. The purpose of this descriptive study was to estimate the cost of nonproductive OR time (ie, time spent not moving forward with the surgical procedure) spent reconciling surgical sponge counts and the cost of using radiography to rule out the presence of retained sponges. We included 13,322 patient surgeries during a nine-month period. Perioperative personnel required from one to 90 minutes of additional time to reconcile each of 212 incorrect/unresolved counts. The total annualized cost of OR time spent searching for sponges and ruling out the presence of potentially retained sponges using radiography was $219,056. These costs should be included in comprehensive cost analyses when considering alternatives to supplement the surgical count.