A 20-Year-Old Gossypiboma Causing Small Bowel Obstruction

Retained foreign bodies including gossypiboma could be silent for years. However, in some cases, it can lead to major complications. Gossypiboma is not frequently reported for multiple reasons, including nonspecific presentation clinically and radiologically, and ethical issues. We present a case of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2023-03, Vol.15 (3), p.e36166
Main Authors: Alrashed, Rema, AlHarbi, Hussam, Alanazi, Basmah A, Binaskar, Mohammed, Al Hasan, Ibrahim, Algarni, Abdullah A, Almodhaiberi, Helayel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Antigens
Calcification
Case reports
Constipation
Emergency medical care
Gastroenterology
General Surgery
Histopathology
Intestinal obstruction
Laboratories
Medical imaging
Morbidity
Mortality
Nausea
Pain
Patients
Radiology
Small intestine
Surgery
Tomography
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Summary:Retained foreign bodies including gossypiboma could be silent for years. However, in some cases, it can lead to major complications. Gossypiboma is not frequently reported for multiple reasons, including nonspecific presentation clinically and radiologically, and ethical issues. We present a case of a gossypiboma that was retained for more than 20 years causing a severe intestinal obstruction for an elderly female. The intestinal obstruction was initially thought to be adhesive in nature and was managed initially conservatively, but with failure to improve, the patient was taken for exploratory laparotomy, and the foreign body was found attached to the root of the mesentery posterior to the transverse colon. This case sheds light on the fact that although surgical tools are of great utility, they must be managed with utmost care to prevent complications and secure patients' safety.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.36166