title: Unilateral otitis media with effusion caused by retained surgical gauze as an unintended iatrogenic complication of orthognathic surgery: case report.
abstract: Inadvertent retention of surgical gauze during an operation can have disastrous consequences for both the patient and the surgeon. Several cases have been reported, particularly after abdominal surgery. However, it has never to our knowledge been reported as a leading cause of dysfunction of the Eustachian tube after orthognathic surgery. We recently encountered a patient in whom it presented with unilateral otitis media with an effusion after orthognathic surgery. All surgeons involved with orthognathic surgery should be aware that remnants of surgical gauze after orthognathic surgery can compromise the Eustachian tube and cause otitis media with an effusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
authors.forename: Chang Mook
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
authors.forename: Sung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Electronic address: sookim@knu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jung-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000209:etiology; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D019300:Medical Errors; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Eustachian tube; Orthognathic surgery; Otitis media with effusion; Retained surgical gauze