Retained surgical sponge presenting as a case of intestinal obstructionRetained surgical sponge presenting as a case of intestinal obstruction

Retained surgical sponge or gossypiboma is a term used to describe a retained swab in the body after operation. There are different surgical materials that can be left in the abdomen during operation such as sponge, artery forceps, scissors, and pieces of broken instrument. Mop is the most commonly retained foreign body. Inadvertent retention of foreign body in the abdomen often requires another operation, increasing the morbidity and mortality in these patients. Despite the complications associated with this condition, they are rarely published because of medicolegal implications.
We report a case of 28-year-old woman who presented on account of 9 months history of colicky abdominal pain, abdominal distention and mass following open myomectomy in a private hospital.