DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2015.v03i03.031

Pages: 281-285

Gossypiboma is an uncommon surgical complication and this term is is used to describe a condition in which there is retention of surgical sponges in the body after surgical operation. The incidence of gossypiboma is 1 in 1000 to 15,000 intra-abdominal operations. Gossypiboma may lead to severe complications which eventually lead to death of the patients involved. Here in we report the case of a 42 year old Nigerian lady who presented with abdominal pains, mass, severe vomiting and electrolyte imbalance. She had a surgical history of cesarean section about 15 months earlier performed by another doctor in another hospital. The mass was located at the right iliac fossa (RIF) and was suspected after a computed tomography (CT) scan. Exploratory laparotomy was done and the intra-operative finding was a large cotton swab fistulating out of the colon, confirming the diagnosis. Electrolyte imbalance due to severe vomiting has varied causes and can lead to death. A detailed history should be taken for all patients with vomiting. Foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) should also be looked out for as a possible cause.