title: [A retained gauze as a cause of unexplained abdominal complaints].
abstract: Three patients, two men aged 36 and 62 years and one woman aged 41 years, developed serious symptoms after abdominal surgery which appeared to be based on a retained gauze. In one patient the interval was 15 years, in the second patient the surgery was a minor procedure and in the third patient a surgical towel was retained in the abdominal cavity. After repeated surgery and complementary treatment the patients made a good recovery. Despite all of the precautions taken during surgical procedures, retained foreign bodies continue to be a clinical problem. This can only be overcome if all the members in an operation team work together meticulously.
authors.affiliation: Medisch Spectrum Twente, afd. Heelkunde, Postbus 50.000, 7500 KA Enschede.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schelhaas
authors.forename: W J B
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Mastboom
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000009:adverse effects*