Abdominal sacral colpopexy resulting in a retained sponge. A case report.
BACKGROUND
During abdominal sacral colpopexy, a procedure used to correct vaginal vault prolapse, the vaginal cuff must be elevated intraabdominally to facilitate suturing. The use of a vaginal sponge stick to elevate the cuff can result in foreign body complications.


METHODS
A 70-year-old woman developed chronic pelvic pain and a vaginal discharge after undergoing abdominal sacral colpopexy. Radiographic films showed what appeared to be a retained surgical needle in the vaginal cuff. During an exploratory laparotomy to remove the foreign body, a fragment of the sponge used to elevate the vaginal cuff during abdominal sacral colpopexy was found to have been inadvertently incorporated into the apex of the vagina.


CONCLUSIONS
An end-to-end anastomotic sizer should be used to elevate the vaginal cuff during abdominal sacral colpopexy to reduce the risk of foreign body complications.
Hemelt
B A
BA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA.
Finan
M A
MA
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction; D006801:Humans; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region / Q000601:surgery; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery