Intestinal Obstruction from Transmural Migration of Retained Abdominal Sponge

Abstract

Retained surgical foreign bodies are uncommon iatrogenic surgical complication which may have serious consequences on the patient, embarrass the care givers and the involved institution. This is a report a 39 year old woman presenting with intestinal obstruction 6 weeks after a Caesarian section. A Laparotomy was done 10 days before presentation without resolving the obstruction. At re-Laparotomy, a retained abdominal surgical sponge was removed from the lumen of the terminal ileum. She has remained well at 24 months of follow up. Transmural migration of retained abdominal sponge is unusual and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in any patient presenting with features of intestinal obstruction in who has had previous laparotomy. The mechanism and efforts at prevention are discussed.