Falleti J, Somma A, Baldassarre F, Accurso A, D'Ettorre A, Insabato L. Unexpected autoptic finding in a sudden death: gossypiboma.
Forensic Sci Int 2010;
199:e23-6. [PMID:
20226607 DOI:
10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.02.019]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2009] [Revised: 12/17/2009] [Accepted: 02/15/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Gossypiboma, i.e. a retained surgical sponge, is a serious and rare complication in surgical practice, most commonly occurring in abdominal procedures. Migration of retained surgical sponge is an unusual sequelae, particularly if occurring in tracheo-bronchial tree. Herein, we report a 35-year-old man who had had a retained surgical sponge forgotten during a radical thyroidectomy, and subsequently a trans-luminal migration of the gossypiboma which went through the trachea causing a sudden death of the patient. All the operators of the surgical team should keep in mind this terrible complication to avoid unpleasant consequences to patient and themselves.
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