title: Retained surgical sponge with migration into the duodenum and persistent duodenal fistula.
abstract: Migration of a retained surgical sponge into the bowel is a rare cause of bowel obstruction. Thus far, there have not been any reports that the site of initial migration of the sponge was identified by imaging studies or surgical exploration because the onset of symptoms is usually delayed. Unique about the case presented herein is that a barium meal follow-through study revealed a duodenal fistula that had developed after uneventful cholecystectomy due to a retained surgical sponge that had migrated into the duodenum and obstructed the distal jejunum. Imaging findings are presented and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Ruprecht Karls University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. markus_duex@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Düx
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ganten
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lubienski
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grenacher
mesh_terms: D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed