title: Retained surgical sponge.
abstract: Surgical foreign bodies are retained more commonly than is suspected. About 50% will become symptomatic in the form of erosion into the bowel or vessels, fistulae, abscesses, obstruction, bleeding, or chronic pain. Expeditious removal is recommended. Laparoscopic retrieval is feasible especially if discovered early.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed