Unexpected autoptic finding in a sudden death: gossypiboma.
Gossypiboma, i.e. a retained surgical sponge, is a serious and rare complication in surgical practice, most commonly occurring in abdominal procedures. Migration of retained surgical sponge is an unusual sequelae, particularly if occurring in tracheo-bronchial tree. Herein, we report a 35-year-old man who had had a retained surgical sponge forgotten during a radical thyroidectomy, and subsequently a trans-luminal migration of the gossypiboma which went through the trachea causing a sudden death of the patient. All the operators of the surgical team should keep in mind this terrible complication to avoid unpleasant consequences to patient and themselves.
Department of Biomorphological and Functional Science, University Federico II of Naples, via S. Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. shabo1@inwind.it
Jessica
J
Falleti
Anna
A
Somma
Francesca
F
Baldassarre
Antonello
A
Accurso
Antonio
A
D'Ettorre
Luigi
L
Insabato
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D005402:Fistula / Q000473:pathology; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology*