Gossypiboma with enterocutaneous fistula after cesarean section: a case report and review of the literature

Although precautions taken for surgical procedures are strict and effective in most operative theaters, the incidence of retained foreign bodies following surgery has a reported rate of 0.01–0.001%, of which gossypibomas make up 80% of cases.

A 42-year-old woman who was Oromo in ethnicity came to the hospital with symptoms of infection, including pus drainage from her lower abdominal incision, fever, chills, and weight loss. Tests indicated an intraabdominal mass consistent with a foreign body from a previous surgery. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a surgical pack causing intestinal perforations. The foreign body was removed, and the patient recovered well postoperatively.

Retained surgical items are serious problems of surgical operations that can result in morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it should be among the differential diagnoses of any abdominal pain in patients having a history of prior surgery.