Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009; 57(7): 432-434
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1038962
Case Reports

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Three Cases of Intrathoracic Gossypiboma with Varying Morbidities Depending on the Time of Detection

H. K. Okur1 , E. Okur1 , R. Baran1
  • 1Sureyyapasa Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Teaching Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Further Information

Publication History

received May 19, 2008

Publication Date:
30 September 2009 (online)

Abstract

An intrathoracic gossypiboma (surgical sponge retained within the thoracic cavity during surgery) is rare but causes serious surgical complications and presents with difficulties in the differential diagnosis. In this article, we describe three cases of intrathoracic gossypiboma identified with the help of exploratory surgery 22, 10 and 3 years after they had been retained after surgery. The radiological findings varied in these cases and were insufficient for an accurate preoperative diagnosis. Marked deterioration in the neighboring lung tissue was observed over time, and the patients who had gossypibomas for 22, 10 and 3 years required pneumonectomy, lobectomy and partial decortication, respectively.

References

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Dr. Erdal Okur

Sureyyapasa Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Teaching Hospital

Maltepe

34758 Istanbul

Turkey

Phone: + 90 53 27 96 16 00

Fax: + 90 21 64 21 42 65

Email: erdalokur@hotmail.com