Print this page Email this page
Users Online: 27664
Home About us Editorial board Search Ahead of print Current issue Archives Submit article Instructions Subscribe Contacts Login 


 
 Table of Contents  
CASE REPORT
Year : 2018  |  Volume : 8  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 139-142

A rare case report of long-standing foreign body in the abdomen; forgotten scalpel blade in a multipara


1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria
2 Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria
3 Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Date of Web Publication27-Sep-2019

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Matthew C Taingson
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Kaduna State
Nigeria
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/ais.ais_42_18

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 


The unintended retention of foreign objects (URFOs) after invasive procedures can cause morbidity and in some cases mortality. There may be an extended period between occurrence and detection of an URFO. Retained foreign objects are most commonly detected immediately postprocedure by X-ray, during routine follow-up visits, or from the patient's report of pain or discomfort. This is a case report of a 46-year-old lady Para 3+04 alive who presented to the gynecological clinic following an incidental radiological finding of a size 22 scalpel blade while being evaluated for low back pain. She had an exploratory laparotomy and retrieval of the blade. She did well and was discharged home in good condition on postoperative day 7.

Keywords: Incidental, laparotomy, scalpel, unintended retention of foreign body


How to cite this article:
Adze JA, Taingson MC, Jerry MG, Bature SB, Amina DM, Caleb M, Amina A, Lydia A, John S. A rare case report of long-standing foreign body in the abdomen; forgotten scalpel blade in a multipara. Arch Int Surg 2018;8:139-42

How to cite this URL:
Adze JA, Taingson MC, Jerry MG, Bature SB, Amina DM, Caleb M, Amina A, Lydia A, John S. A rare case report of long-standing foreign body in the abdomen; forgotten scalpel blade in a multipara. Arch Int Surg [serial online] 2018 [cited 2024 Mar 29];8:139-42. Available from: https://www.archintsurg.org/text.asp?2018/8/3/139/268127




  Introduction Top


Foreign objects can be left behind following a surgical procedure in any part of the body, but most frequently, in the abdominal cavity and thorax, although no body cavity is invulnerable.[1] Sponges are the items most frequently reported as retained, followed by instruments.[2]

Estimates of the incidence of retained foreign objects vary.[2] An estimated 1:1,000 to 1:1,500 intra-abdominal surgeries result in a retained foreign body.[3],[4] In a systematic review, the median incidence estimate for retained surgical items was 1.32 events per 10,000 surgical procedures.[5]

Retained foreign objects undergo two types of foreign body reaction.[3] The first is an aseptic fibrinous response, resulting in formation of a granuloma, which can then undergo calcification and decomposition. This response is usually clinically silent and only incidentally discovered. The second is an inflammatory reaction, resulting in an abscess. In the body's attempt to expel retained foreign objects, fistulization, perforation of viscera, and bowel obstruction have been shown to occur.[2],[6],[7],[8] We report a case of a long-standing foreign body in the abdomen.


  Case Report Top


Mrs. E.R., a 46-year-old Para 3+0 4 alive, presented to the gynecological clinic of our hospital on 7 March 2017 with a plain abdominal X-ray showing an incidental finding of a surgical blade logged in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen, adjacent to the transverse process of the third lumber vertebra, [Figure 1]a while being evaluated for low back pain. She had occasionally suffered from only lower back pain since her last delivery 6 years ago. She attributed the pain to the spinal anesthesia that she had previously. Prior to this, she had two open surgeries, an appendectomy (in 1997) and ovarian cystectomy (in 1998) in two different private hospitals in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Furthermore, she had three Cesarean sections in 2006, 2008, and 2011 in our hospital when it was still a specialist hospital before it was transformed to its present status of a Teaching Hospital. The indications for the Cesarean sections were prolonged labor with fotal distress, twin pregnancy with leading twin breech, and two previous Cesarean sections, respectively. All these Cesarean deliveries were said to have been done under spinal anesthesia. She had no abdominal pains and had no change in bowel habit.
Figure 1: (a) Plain abdominal X-ray with blade. (b) Computed tomography scan with blade in the abdomen

Click here to view


On examination, she was a young lady with a height of about 1.62 m, weight of 115 kg, and body mass index (BMI) of 44 kg/m 2. She was afebrile (temp. 36.5°C), anicteric, not pale, and no pedal edema. The respiratory rate was 22 cycles/min; chest was clinically clear. Her pulse rate was 80 beats/min, regular and good volume, and blood pressure was 110/70 mmHg.

Abdominal examination revealed a midline scar extending from the umbilicus to the upper border of the pubis symphysis and a grid iron scar. There was no area of tenderness and nil palpable masses felt. A computed tomography scan of her abdomen and pelvis in addition to the plain abdominal x-ray demonstrated the blade as well [Figure 1]b. The patient was further counselled on the findings and the necessity of surgery, which she consented. Under general anesthesia, abdominal cavity was entered via the previous midline incision; findings were those of adhesions in the posterior surface of the previous scar with attachment of the omentum and some part of the bowel. Other intra-abdominal organs were essentially normal. Following extensive exploration, a size 22 surgical blade surrounded by granulation tissue was found lying transversely in the mid-portion of the meso-colon of the transverse colon; fine dissection and retrieval of the blade was done [Figure 2]a,[Figure 2]b,[Figure 2]c, hemostasis secured, and the abdomen closed in layers.
Figure 2: (a-c) Blade

Click here to view


The patient had an uneventful postoperative course. She was discharged home on postoperative day 7; a check abdominal X-ray done revealed normal finding [Figure 3]. Subsequent follow-up visits were normal and back pain had remarkably improved.
Figure 3: Plain abdominal X-ray post-op

Click here to view


An exhaustive effort was put forward to find out previous operative counts, but we could not ascertain correct counts due to the long duration and multiple operations that patient had at multiple centers.

The histopathological report of tissues around the blade (H-1271/17) was as follows:

Macroscopy: Received a yellow fatty tissue that has grayish capsule. It measures 2.5 × 1.5 and weighed 1 g. Cut section shows yellow and grayish surfaces (AE).

Microscopy: Section show fibrocollengnized tissue, a pseudocapsule around lobules of adipocyte in areas, infiltrates of mononuclear cells mainly lymphocytes and histiocytes are noted.

Conclusion: Exploratory laparotomy specimen - chronic nonspecific inflammation.


  Discussion Top


Foreign bodies inside the body that are forgotten during surgeries occasionally cause symptoms after months and even after years. Our patient had a total of five surgeries spanning 6–20 years prior to presentation; she had only occasional lower back pain.

Sponges are the items most frequently reported as retained, followed by instruments.[2] Cases of scalpel blades retained in the body have been reported.[8],[9] However, both patients were symptomatic necessitating reoperation and retrieval within 7 days of the primary surgery, unlike Mrs. E.R., where the blade was incidentally detected 6 years after the last surgery.

Several risk factors, including emergency surgery, unexpected changes in the operative procedure, high patient-BMI, and breakdowns in communication, are responsible for retained foreign bodies.[2] This patient had three emergency surgeries in 1997, 1998, and 2006, which put her at risk. In addition, the procedures were open surgeries involving the abdominal cavity. Her BMI of 44 kg/m 2 is a reported independent risk factor for retaining foreign objects after surgery [2] and lastly the noninstitutionalization of instruments count in most private and public hospitals before and after operation contribute to this adverse outcome.[10]

Location of the blade outside the bowel for 6–20 years after surgery is in keeping with published facts that metallic and other medical materials that are left in the abdomen may stay anywhere in the intra-abdominal space and rarely move to the intestine or the colon.[11],[12] This is thought to be so especially when minimal inflammation, accompanied by fibrous adhesions, occurs and restricts movement. In this patient, the surgical blade was in the meso-colon of the transverse colon, neatly covered by fibrous adhesions, thereby minimizing further migration and possible perforation/injury to loops of bowel. We are, therefore, not too surprise that the patient could remain minimally symptomatic for this length of time.

Laparoscopic removal of retained surgical items from abdominal cavity has been published.[13],[14] This approach has the added advantage reduced morbidity and retention of surgical items; however, our hospital did not offer such service at the time the patient was managed.

Various techniques can be used for the detection and identification of retained foreign objects; one of which is plain radiographs for radio-opaque items as in this patient.[15] Ultrasonography also plays a vital role in the detection of gossypiboma. This can be diagnosed by the presence of bright echogenic wavy structures with a mass showing posterior acoustic shadowing that changes in parallel with the direction of the ultrasound beam.[16] Another technique is the use of computed tomography (CT) scan. A surgical sponge will show bubbles on soft tissue masses. The flaw with this technique is that gossypibomas are easily confused with abscesses.[17] In this patient, the plain abdominal X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, and abdominal CT scan done were able to detect clearly the surgical blade and where it was located, which facilitated a purposeful exploration of the abdomen during the operation. Magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy are other imaging techniques that could be used.[18] Endoscopy [19] and handheld wand-scanning devices [20] have been deployed to detect retained foreign objects, such as surgical gauze sponges.

Meticulous counting of sponges, sharps, and instruments is a major factor in the prevention of this mishap; guidelines for the performance of counting of all sponges and sharps, even though are available, need to be standardized and simplified further for easy application and use.[21] For instance, if a count is incorrect, then a radiography or manual re-exploration is mandatory.


  Conclusion Top


In conclusion, retained scalpel blade and other material is potentially life threatening. It may cause serious medical problems, disability and subsequent reduction in the quality of life of the victim. It may also cause legal problems between the patient and the doctor. Therefore, extreme care should be taken in the handling of instruments during surgical procedures including proper and double counting at the end to enhance patient safety. Proper communication among the personnel participating in surgery will go a long way in preventing this kind of mishap.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.



 
  References Top

1.
Lincourt AE, Harrell A, Cristiano J, Sechrist C, Kercher K, Heniford BT. Retained foreign bodies after surgery. J Surg Res 2007;138:170-4.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Gawande AA, Studdert DM, Orav EJ, Brennan TA, Zinner MJ. Risk factors for retained instruments and sponges after surgery. N Engl J Med 2003;348:229-35.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Corbin EE, Cavanaugh RP, Fick JL, McAbee KP, Powers B. Foreign body reaction to a retained surgical sponge (gossypiboma) mimicking an implant associated sarcoma in a dog after a tibial plateau levelling osteotomy. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2013;26:147-53.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Hempel S, Maggard-Gibbons M, Nguyen DK, Dawes AJ, Miake-Lye I, Beroes JM, et al. Wrong-site surgery, retained surgical items, and surgical fires: A systematic review of surgical never events. JAMA Surg 2015;150:796-805.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Dux M, Ganten M, Lubienski A, Grenacher L. Retained surgical sponge with migration into the duodenum and persistent duodenal fistula. Eur Radiol 2002;12:S74-7.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Robinson KB, Levin EJ. Erosion of retained surgical sponges into the intestine. AJR 1966;96:339-43.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Gonzalez-Ojeda A, Rodriguez-Alcantar DA, Arenas-Marquez H, Sanchez Perez-Verdia E, Chavez-Perez R, Alvarez-Quintero R. Retained foreign bodies following intra-abdominal surgery. Hepatogastroenterology 1999;46:808-12.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
A date with Dr. Nightmare, 2009. Available from: http://www.archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=110801. [Last cited on 2012 Oct 22].  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Agony after operation knife 'left in' during hysterectomy surgery, 2011. Available from: http://www.news.com.au/national-news/agony-after-op-knife-left-in/story-e6frfkvr-1226094378806. [Last cited on 2012 Jul 14].  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Haynes AB, Weiser TG, Berry WR, Lipsitz SR, Breizat AH, Dellinger EP, et al. A surgical safety checklist to reduce morbidity and mortality in a global population. N Engl J Med 2009;360:491-9.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Wu SD, Rios RR, Meeks JJ, Nadler RB. Rectal Hem-o-Lok clip migration after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Can J Urol 2009;16:4939-40.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Modrzejewski A, Kiciak A, Sledż M, Sygit K, Borycka-Kiciak K, Grzesiak W, et al. Migration of a foreign body into the colon and its autonomous excretion. Med Sci Monit 2011;17:CS34-8.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.
Özsoy Z, Okan I, Daldal E, Dasıran MF, Angın YS, Şahin M. Laparoscopic removal of gossypiboma. Case Rep Surg 2015;2015:317240.  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14.
Alzahrani S, Alqahtani A. Laparoscopic removal of retained artery forceps causing internal hernia. SOJ Surg 2016;3:1-3.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.
Takigami I, Itoh Y, Itokazu M, Shimizu K. Radio-opaque marker of a surgical sponge appearing as an intra-articular foreign body after total hip arthroplasty. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2008;128:1167-8.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.
Sugano S, Suzuki T, Iinuma M, Mizugami H, Kagesawa M, Ozawa K, et al. Gossypiboma: Diagnosis with ultrasonography. J Clin Ultrasound 1993;21:289-92.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
17.
Wan YL, Huang TJ, Huang DL, Lee TY, Tsai CC. Sonography and computed tomography of a gossypiboma andin vitro studies of sponges by ultrasound. Case report. Clin Imaging 1992;16:256-8.  Back to cited text no. 17
    
18.
Kopka L, Fischer U, Gross AJ, Funke M, Oestmann JW, Grabbe E. CT of retained surgical sponges (textilomas): Pitfalls in detection and evaluation. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1996;6:919-23.  Back to cited text no. 18
    
19.
Tan VE, Sethi DS. Gossypiboma: An unusual intracranial complication of endoscopic sinus surgery. Laryngoscope 2011;121:879-81.  Back to cited text no. 19
    
20.
Macario A, Morris D, Morris S. Initial clinical evaluation of a handheld device for detecting retained surgical gauze sponges using radiofrequency identification technology. Arch Surg 2006;141:659-62.  Back to cited text no. 20
    
21.
Recommended practices for product selection in the perioperative practice setting. In: Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver, CO: AORN, Inc; 2010:189-92.  Back to cited text no. 21
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
Access Statistics
Email Alert *
Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)

 
  In this article
Abstract
Introduction
Case Report
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Article Figures

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed4150    
    Printed319    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded236    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal