Gossypiboma Presenting as an Atypical Intra-Abdominal Cyst: A Case Report

Abstract

Gossypibomas are generally retained surgical sponges, and are usually a rare occurrence. They are diagnostic dilemmas with an incidence ranging from 1 in 8000 to 1 in 18,000 surgeries. However the incidence of this problem is on the rise and the clinician needs to have a high index of suspicion to make an accurate diagnosis. We reported the case of a 50-year-old male patient who presented with a 6-month history of vague epigastric discomfort, early satiety and nausea. Further investigation revealed an intra-abdominal cyst that proved to be secondary to a retained laparotomy sponge and was treated laparoscopically. This is usually an unanticipated surgical misadventure which is often preventable, with significant associated stigma for the surgical professional involved. Unfortunately it leads to extensive and often unnecessary surgical intervention. The condition can be managed conservatively or surgically. Our case report demonstrates the use of laparoscopy for the successful management of intra-abdominal gossypibomas and represents the first reported case of laparoscopic management of a gossypiboma in the Caribbean setting. It also demonstrates both the acute and delayed presentations of gossypibomas in the same patient.