Intrathoracic Gossypiboma after Cardiac Surgery: Case Report

Intrathoracic Gossypiboma after Cardiac Surgery: Case Report

Shqiptar Demaçi1, Fitim Selimi1

1Department of Thoracic Surgery,
University Clinical Centre of Kosova (UCCK)- Prishtina
Intrathoracic gossypiboma after cardiac
surgery: Case report

Corresponding Author:

SHQIPTAR DEMAÇI

Thoracic surgeon; Department of Thoracic Surgery,
University Clinical Centre of Kosova (UCLC)- Prishtina;
E-mail: [email protected]

___________________________

Abstract

Background: Gossypiboma is a surgical complication resulting from sterile cotton material being left inside anatomical regions, leading to increased risks of postoperative complications, reoperations, and rehospitalizations.

Methods: A 63-year-old male patient underwent surgery for an aortic valve replacement with a metal prosthesis. Five years later, he presented with pain on the left side of his chest, fatigue, and slight breathing difficulties, and a thorax CT scan revealed a unilocular cystic lesion in the lower lobe of the left lung. A left thoracotomy was performed.

Results: As we removed the lesion, it secreted thick yellow pus; in the left hemithorax, a gauze/compress of 25 x 10 cm had been forgotten, presumably left during the replacement of the aortic valve.

Conclusion: We recommend implementing rigorous counting procedures for pre- and post- operation surgical materials, as well as marking the gauses/compresses with a radiopaque line to reduce postoperative complications.

Keywords: Thoracic gossypiboma, encapsulated intrathoracic abscesses

Published online first*

Access full paper here:

HOW TO CITE?

Registration

Forgotten Password?