title: Laparoscopic removal of a large laparotomy pad forgotten in situ.
abstract: Objects forgotten during surgery are still an important complication with ethical and forensic implications. This case report describes a splenectomized patient with type II Hodgkin's disease. A large laparotomy pad (68 x 48 cm) forgotten in situ during a staging operation 6 months previously was removed laparoscopically. In asplenic patients with a permanent immune deficiency it is especially advantageous to perform surgery via the "closed" route whenever possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Karl-Franzens University Surgical Clinic, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uranüs
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schauer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dagcioglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000009:adverse effects*