Hegar uterine dilator as an unusual cause of small bowel obstruction: a case report.
BACKGROUND
The unusual event of surgical instrument retention in the abdominal cavity usually occurs after laparotomy.


METHODS
A 45-year-old African woman from Cameroon with no previous abdominal surgery presented with a three-day history of colicky abdominal pain. Abdominal X-ray showed an opaque, linear object in the lower abdomen. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a Hegar uterine dilator that was lost during a dilatation and curettage performed seven years prior to the present admission.


CONCLUSIONS
The trans-uterine route should be included as a rare and unusual source of surgical instruments retained in the abdomen.
Okorie
Chukwudi O
CO
Banso Baptist Hospital, Box 9, Kumbo, NWP, Cameroon. okorieco@mail.ru.