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