title: Retained sponge after abdominal surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the cause and clinical presentation along with clinical course (cooperative and postoperative) of retained abdominal sponge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical Department, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, from April 1, 2000 to August 31, 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 12 patients. All the patients, who presented to surgical department during the stated period with retained abdominal sponge postoperatively, were included in the study. Retained abdominal foreign bodies, other than the surgical sponge, were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12 patients presented with retained abdominal sponge. Out of these, 33.33% were males and 66.66% females. Modes of presentation were intestinal obstruction, 58.33%, discharging sinus, 41.67%, intraabdominal abscess, 16.67%, peritonitis, 16.67% and mass abdomen, 8.33%. One death followed despite provision of due care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retained surgical sponge is a potentially lethal condition and all preventive measures should be taken to avoid this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur.
authors.forename: Gulzar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Sheikh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attiq-ur-Rehman
authors.forename: Muhammad Zulfiqar
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Anjum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome