Gossypiboma Posing as a Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

The term gossypiboma is used to describe a retained surgical sponge after operation. It is a rare but serious complication which is seldom reported because of the medicolegal implications. Gossypiboma usually has varied and vague presentation and is also difficult to detect on radiological investiga...

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Main Authors: K. N. Srivastava, Amit Agarwal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Surgery
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/713428
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author K. N. Srivastava
Amit Agarwal
author_facet K. N. Srivastava
Amit Agarwal
author_sort K. N. Srivastava
collection DOAJ
description The term gossypiboma is used to describe a retained surgical sponge after operation. It is a rare but serious complication which is seldom reported because of the medicolegal implications. Gossypiboma usually has varied and vague presentation and is also difficult to detect on radiological investigations. It can even remain silent and present years after the operation. We report a case of a 38-year-old lady who presented with vague pain and chronic lump in the right iliac fossa region. She had a history of cesarean section 4 years ago. Radiological investigations were inconclusive in detecting the retained sponge. A working diagnosis of mesenteric cyst was made and an exploratory laparotomy was done where she was found to have a large gossypiboma densely adhered to the small bowel and surrounding structures. Though rare, gossypiboma should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis in postoperative cases presenting as vague pain or chronic lump even years after the operation.
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spelling doaj-art-affc7ed1dd5943438c13010eeb0a7d182025-08-20T02:19:06ZengWileyCase Reports in Surgery2090-69002090-69192014-01-01201410.1155/2014/713428713428Gossypiboma Posing as a Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case Report and Review of the LiteratureK. N. Srivastava0Amit Agarwal1Department of General and Minimal Access Surgery, B. L. Kapur Super Speciality Hospital, Pusa Road, New Delhi 110005, IndiaDepartment of General and Minimal Access Surgery, B. L. Kapur Super Speciality Hospital, Pusa Road, New Delhi 110005, IndiaThe term gossypiboma is used to describe a retained surgical sponge after operation. It is a rare but serious complication which is seldom reported because of the medicolegal implications. Gossypiboma usually has varied and vague presentation and is also difficult to detect on radiological investigations. It can even remain silent and present years after the operation. We report a case of a 38-year-old lady who presented with vague pain and chronic lump in the right iliac fossa region. She had a history of cesarean section 4 years ago. Radiological investigations were inconclusive in detecting the retained sponge. A working diagnosis of mesenteric cyst was made and an exploratory laparotomy was done where she was found to have a large gossypiboma densely adhered to the small bowel and surrounding structures. Though rare, gossypiboma should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis in postoperative cases presenting as vague pain or chronic lump even years after the operation.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/713428
spellingShingle K. N. Srivastava
Amit Agarwal
Gossypiboma Posing as a Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Case Reports in Surgery
title Gossypiboma Posing as a Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_full Gossypiboma Posing as a Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_fullStr Gossypiboma Posing as a Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_full_unstemmed Gossypiboma Posing as a Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_short Gossypiboma Posing as a Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_sort gossypiboma posing as a diagnostic dilemma a case report and review of the literature
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/713428
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