Gossypiboma: Twelve Years There-After
B. A. Ojo
Department of Anatomical Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
E. O. Umobong
Department of Laboratory Medicine, State House Medical Center, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria.
I.O. Ibrahim
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, State House Medical Center. Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria.
J. C. Ezemamma
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, State House Medical Center. Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria.
T. O. Fasoranti
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, State House Medical Center. Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria
B. M. Duduyemi *
Department of Anatomic Pathology, Ekiti State University, College of Medicine, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
G. T. A. Jombo
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Gossypiboma is used to describe a retained cotton matrix surgical material in the body after an operation. Retained intra-abdominal surgical sponge is an uncommon surgical error. Among retained foreign bodies, a surgical gauze or sponge constitutes the most frequently encountered object because of its common usage, small size and amorphous structure. We report a case of a 32-year-old female patient who presented a left sided abdominal mass 12 years after an exploratory laparotomy. The policy of prevention coupled with use of several adjunct technologies which accounts for sponge use will help to reduce the incidence of gossypibomas.
Keywords: Surgical sponges, laparotomy, foreign bodies, prevention and control.