Unexpected autoptic finding in a sudden death: Gossypiboma

Falleti, Jessica; Somma, Anna; Baldassarre, Francesca; Accurso, Antonello; D’Ettorre, Antonio; Insabato, Luigi

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.02.019

« Previous Next »Forensic Science International
Volume 199, Issue 1 , Pages e23-e26, 15 June 2010

Unexpected autoptic finding in a sudden death: Gossypiboma

Jessica Falleti
- Department of Biomorphological and Functional Science, University Federico II of Naples, via S. Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Anna Somma
- Department of Biomorphological and Functional Science, University Federico II of Naples, via S. Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Francesca Baldassarre
- Department of Pathology, Pellegrini Hospital, Naples, Italy
Antonello Accurso
- Department of Surgery, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
Antonio D’Ettorre
- Medico-Legal Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
Luigi Insabato
- Department of Biomorphological and Functional Science, University Federico II of Naples, via S. Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 0817463442; fax: +39 0817463475.

Received 18 September 2009; received in revised form 17 December 2009; accepted 15 February 2010. published online 12 March 2010.

Abstract

Gossypiboma, i.e. a retained surgical sponge, is a serious and rare complication in surgical practice, most commonly occurring in abdominal procedures. Migration of retained surgical sponge is an unusual sequelae, particularly if occurring in tracheo-bronchial tree.

Herein, we report a 35-year-old man who had had a retained surgical sponge forgotten during a radical thyroidectomy, and subsequently a trans-luminal migration of the gossypiboma which went through the trachea causing a sudden death of the patient.

All the operators of the surgical team should keep in mind this terrible complication to avoid unpleasant consequences to patient and themselves.

Keywords: Airway obstruction, Surgery, Gauze, Autopsy