Forgotten Foreign Bodies in the Abdomen

Abstract

In order to study the pattern, clinical presentation and management outcome of foreign bodies in the abdomen, we prospectively studied seven cases managed at the Surgical Service of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos between January 1997 and December 2003. The age ranged from 10 to 63 years with a mean of 33 years. There was no sex predilection as the male/female ratio was 1:1.3. The commonest complaints were abdominal pain in all the cases and fever in majority (86%) of the cases. The foreign bodies were textile materials in the form of gauze and abdominal packs in 6(85.7%) cases and metal artery forceps in one (14.3%) case. The surgical operations involved were laparotomy in 5(71.4%), open prostatectomy in one (14.3%) and apendicectomy in one (14.3%). There was no mortality but there were 6(85.7%) complications. The significance of this study is to create awareness of this ever present danger at every laparotomy and to emphasize the need for the operating surgeon to remain meticulous, diligent and to supervise every aspect of the operation including taking good note of the instrument counts at both elective and emergency surgical procedures.