Abdominal Intraluminal Gossypiboma: Demographics, Predictors of Intraluminal Site, Diagnostic and Treatment Measures

Introduction

Gossypiboma is a term that has been used when a gauze or sponge is left by mistake in the surgical field after a surgical procedure. Terms that have also been used to describe this situation are textiloma, cottonoid, cottonballoma, or gauzeoma.^1,2 The term gossypiboma derives from the Latin word “gossypium” and the Swahili word “boma,” which means cotton and a “place of concealment,” respectively.^1,2 Intra-abdominal gossypiboma is the term used when a sponge is accidentally left in the abdominal cavity.³ This complication can be serious and associated with life-changing outcomes.

The clinical presentation of intra-abdominal gossypiboma may vary according to the exact site where the retained gauze is located inside the abdomen. One rare scenario is the migration of the retained gauze into the lumen of the stomach, small bowel, or colon.³ In this article, we systemically analyze articles and reports related to the transmural migration of gossypiboma. Besides, we report a case of ileal transmigration of gossypiboma in a 53 years-old female.

Materials and Methods

Case Presentation

A 53-year-old hypertensive female presented to our center with severe central abdominal pain for 2 weeks, non-radiating, exacerbated by food and partially relieved by vomiting. The vomitus was food in content, three times daily, and without blood. Also, she complained of decreased appetite and significant weight loss of 12 Kgs (8%) over a period of 2 months. Her past surgical history was significant for hysterectomy 4 months earlier for uterine fibroid at an outside hospital.

Physical examination was remarkable for abdominal distension, mild diffuse tenderness, and active bowel sounds. No fever was reported. Despite microcytic anemia, all laboratory investigations were within normal range. Chest-Abdominal-Pelvic computed tomography (CT) was performed and revealed dilation of the distal bowel loops that contained impacted fecal material and multiple linear dense radiopaque material associated with fat stranding with suspected foreign body Figure 1. The decision was to go for surgery.

Figure 1 CT scan (A) axial view and (B) coronal view indicating dilation of the distal bowel loops that contained impacted fecal material and multiple linear dense radiopaque material (red arrow) associated with fat stranding with suspected foreign body.

At laparotomy, extensive adhesions around the terminal ilium were detected with the surrounding small bowel loops fixed to the abdominal wall. Intraluminal foreign in the terminal ilium with small bowel contained perforation was observed. Small bowel loop mobilization and resection was performed and revealed intraluminal gauzoma in the terminal ilium Figure 2. The resultant histopathological examination revealed no significant findings within the gossypiboma and bowel loop.

Figure 2 (A–C) Intraoperative laparotomy and sponge extraction.

She was discharged 15 days after the operation in a good general health, active bowel function and tolerable food intake. Post-operatively, she was followed up one month, three months, and one year without any complication.

Method of Review

This study was done following the guidelines set out by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement.⁴

The authors performed a systematic search in MEDLINE and EMBASE for cases reported in English literature with the last search on December 1st, 2018. The primary keywords used were “gossypiboma”, “gossypiboma and transmigration”, “transmural migration”, “intragastric migration”, “gauzoma textiloma,” retained surgical sponge textiloma, and “textiloma”.

Eligibility Criteria

Only cases reporting intraabdominal and intraluminal gossypiboma were included in the study.

Study Selection and Data Collection

Titles and abstracts containing the keywords and meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved in full for further examination. References cited by these articles were also reviewed and those that were meeting the inclusion criteria were also included in our analysis. General demographic data, clinical features, causative operation, site of the intraluminal gossypiboma, diagnostic methods and treatment procedures for these cases were recorded, summarized and categorized so that the data can be analyzed using proper statistical methods. Three of the authors independently searched for and selected eligible studies then extracted and recorded the data after checking accuracy and assessing quality.

Statistical Analysis

Data were entered into a spreadsheet. The statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software, version 21.0 (IBM, Armonk, New York, USA). Categorical variables were presented as frequency distributions while continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SE). Data were tested at a significance level of 0.05%. We used Pearson χ2 test to investigate the significance of association between categorical variables and used Student’s t-test and ANOVA to examine the significance level for continuous normally distributed variables. Kruskal–Walis test was applied for the abnormally distributed continuous variable. If a significant (P<0.05) relationship was found, then a posthoc residual analysis for categorical variables and a Fisher’s least significant difference test for continuous variables was applied to determine the exact significance between groups for each variable.

Results

Demographics and Patients’ Characteristics

A total of 93 cases of intraluminal gossypiboma were found in the English literature dating back to its first description in 1963.^5–28 Including our case, we had a total of 94 cases of intraluminal gossypiboma.

Table 1 General Demographic and Patients’ Characteristics

The patient demographics and characteristics of the intraluminal gossypiboma are summarized in Table 1. The mean age of the patients was 40.4 year ranging from 3 to 75. Females were obviously more affected than males; 73 females and 21 males were reported.

The main clinical presentation features were found to be intestinal obstruction in more than 60% of the patients. Also, abdominal pain, weight loss and infections were observed in a significantly large number of patients. Other minor symptoms included abdominal mass, diarrhea, fistulas with discharge, and bleeding. In addition, two cases were incidentally passed per rectum.

The causative operations are the surgical operations that were assumed to be main setting where the gauze was forgotten within the patients. The causative operations were categorized into hepato-biliary surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, gynecological surgery, urological surgery, and exploratory laparotomy for traumatic patients. The gynecological surgeries were being the leading cause for gossypiboma and its intraluminal migration (41%) (this why the females were more reported). After that, the hepato-biliary surgeries were found in 35.1% of patients. Then, exploratory laparotomy, gastrointestinal surgeries and urological surgeries in 10.6%, 9.6% and 3.2%, respectively. However, if we look for the operation a specific organ surgery, we will find that cholecystectomy is most commonly associated with intraluminal gossypiboma. All causative operations are summarized in Table 1.

The mean time from the causative operation was 35.16 months. The shortest period was 1 week, and the longest period was 276 months.

Diagnostic and Treatment Measures

The diagnostic modalities that were reported to be utilized are barium studies, abdominal ultrasound, abdominal X-ray, CT scan, endoscopic procedure and in few cases MRI and PET scan (Table 2). The endoscopic assessment was conclusively diagnostic in 73.3% from a total 30 patients who underwent endoscopic procedures (It means the gastroscopy when the gauze located in the stomach or first or second part of duodenum. Also, it means the colonoscopy when the gauze in the colon or ileocecal region). It is followed by CT scan where it was diagnostic in 56.9%. Abdominal X-ray was diagnostic in 34.6%. The barium study and abdominal ultrasound were diagnostic in less than 10%. The diagnostic findings for each modality will be discussed later.

Table 2 Diagnostic and Treatment Measures

In 34 (37.8%) of the patients, the gossypiboma was intra-ileal. Jejunum was the second luminal organ for the gossypiboma to migrate in 14.4%. Colon and stomach were the site for 10% of gossypiboma in each of them. Duodenum and rectum were least to be involved. Also, in many cases, the gossypiboma involved two intraluminal migration with intra-colonic and intra-ileal being mostly involved.

Exploratory laparotomy with or without resection was the main treatment step in 77.7%. Endoscopic retrieval was successfully performed in 8 patients. Expulsion per rectum spontaneously or induced was observed 12 patients.

Predictors for Intraluminal Site

First, the intraluminal site was categorized into stomach, small bowel, large bowel, small bowel and stomach together, and small and large bowel together. The predictors for the site of intraluminal migration were studied on multiple levels of data, the general demographic, clinical symptoms, and diagnostic methods.

Table 3 Predictors for Intraluminal Migration Site

Age and sex showed no significant association with the site of intraluminal gossypiboma. However, the causative operation was significantly associated with the intraluminal site (P< 0.05) as follows: the hepato-biliary surgeries were significantly associated with intragastric location for the gossypiboma with an adjusted residual Z-score and posthoc P value of 3.42 and 0.00, respectively. Similarly, the hepato-biliary surgeries were significantly associated with stomach and small intestine together. Also, the presence of gynecological surgeries decreases the chance for intragastric location significantly and increase the chance for small and large bowel together. Table 3 summarizes the remainder of the results.

Clinically, intestinal obstruction as a presentation was associated with small bowel location for intraluminal gossypiboma (P value = 0.013), whereas passage of gauze per rectum was associated with large bowel location (P value = 0.017). The combination of small and larger bowel was significantly associated with abdominal mass presentation (P value = 0.036). Non-obstructing abdominal pain, bleeding, diarrhea, infection and fistulas were not significant predictors for the site of intraluminal gossypiboma.

For the diagnosis of the gossypiboma and its site; no significant association was detected except for the barium study and ultrasound where they conclusively significantly diagnosed small and large bowel sites. However, the endoscopy was able to diagnose 7 intragastric gossypiboma, 6 in the small intestine (5 in the duodenum and 1 in the terminal ilium), and 4 intra-colonic gossypiboma.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive review study indicating the clinical impact and relevance of gossypiboma and the intraluminal migration. The mean age of the patients was 40.4 years and the females affected more than males. The obstetric and gynecologic surgeries were the leading causative operation. Most patients presented as intestinal obstruction. CT scan is the most sensitive tool to detect any non-specific finding while the endoscopic interventions are the most specific. Laparotomy with segmental resection provides a primary treatment and cure.

The term “gossypiboma” means a sponge or gauze that is left accidentally in the surgical field after surgery. The exact incidence of this rare surgical complication is not known because of being under-reported. The reported incidence of gossypiboma varies between 1/100 and 1/3000 for all surgical interventions and from 1/1000 to 1/1500 for intra-abdominal operations.^24,27-29 Wattanasirichaigoon performed an experimental study in which he placed cotton swabs at different locations in rats’ peritoneal cavity. Intraluminal migration of the sponge occurred in 10 out of 36 animals.³⁰ In Bani-Hani et al study, 11 cases of retained gossypiboma were reported. Among them, one patient developed intraluminal migration.²⁸ Patients with gossypiboma can have two main types of foreign body reactions. In the first type, there will be formation of foreign body granuloma which is usually clinically asymptomatic. This is thought to be mostly caused by a fibrous reaction to the gauze that results in adhesions and encapsulation of the foreign material. Eventually, the gossypiboma may undergo calcification, disruption, partial absorption, or diffusion. In the second type, there will be exudative inflammatory reaction with abscess formation. I this case, the body tries to get rid of the foreign material by eliciting extensive inflammatory response, which usually causes significant symptoms for the patient. Eventually, this may result foreign body sinus, enterocutaneous fistula formation, or transmigration of the foreign body into the gut, with resultant intestinal obstruction, or extrusion of the gossypiboma.^8,23 Dhillon and Park suggested that an inflammatory reaction surrounds the foreign body, with abscess formation that erodes the surrounding tissues. Following this process, the foreign body may move forward by the peristalsis. This migration may occur mostly into the ileum.⁷ Wattanasirichaigoon et al described 4 stages in the process of migration: foreign body reaction, secondary infection, mass formation, and remodeling.³⁰

The diagnosis of gossypiboma is largely based on imaging studies which demonstrate a retained sponge. Most of the time, clinicians start with plain X-ray films which may demonstrate a radiopaque material in the body. However, plain X-ray is neither specific nor sensitive in the diagnosis of gossypiboma. Also, it does not provide accurate information about the location of the foreign material. Because of that, computed tomography (CT) is considered as the preferred initial study when there is suspicion of retained foreign material. CT is highly sensitive and reasonably specific for diagnosis of retained sponge. A low-density heterogeneous mass with a spongiform pattern that contains gas bubbles is the characteristic appearance of gossypiboma on CT. In addition, CT provides good information about the location of foreign material and usually guides clinicians to suspect intraluminal gossypiboma. When there is suspicion of intraluminal gossypiboma, then barium studies and endoscopy may help confirm the diagnosis. In addition, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be useful for diagnosis.^12,14 The differential diagnosis of gossypiboma includes fecaloma, abscess formation, hematoma, and tumor. Regarding the fecaloma, it presents a spotted appearance on CT but has a recognizable colonic wall and lacks thick well-defined capsule. On the other hand, hematoma is located in the early postoperative period and demonstrated resorption later. An abscess is visualized as a mass of fluid density and has a well-defined enhancing wall. Also, the abscess differs in that the gas within it produces an air-fluid level rather than the spongiform pattern characteristic of gossypiboma. However, abscess formation can occur as a complication of gossypiboma formation.³¹

Even though prevention is the best line of management, the best-considered therapy for a retained gossypiboma in the abdomen when occurs is the surgical removal with resection mostly, which carries a 10% mortality rate if there is delay in treatment.⁹ In fact, the alternative methods such as percutaneous extraction are not that useful for the removal of gossypiboma from the abdomen, mainly because of the dense adhesions that are uniformly found between the gossypiboma and intra-abdominal organs.⁹

The problem of retained surgical instruments is not limited to the abdominal surgery. Turgut et al in their meta-analysis reported 58 cases of retained nonabsorbable hemostatic materials within or around the spinal canal after spinal surgeries.³² Koul et al reported an intrathoracic gossypiboma after pneumonectomy.³³ Also, Mir and Singh reported another intrathoracic gossypiboma after lobectomy.³⁴ Similarly, Haddad et al reported a tracheal migration of sponge after mediastinoscopy a 62-year-old lady.³⁵ Moreover, Leppäniemi reported intravesical (inside the bladder) migration of swab after inguinal hernia repair in a 36-year-old man.³⁶ According to Gawande et al study, gossypiboma was most commonly found in the abdomen (56%), pelvis (18%) and thorax (11%).³⁷ In the systematic review of Zantvoord et al, they found 9 cases intrathoracic and intratracheal migration of the gauze out of 65 of intra-cavitary migration. Also, among the 65 cases, they found 4 cases of intravesical migration.¹²

As we have mentioned, the actual number is much lower than expected because of low reporting rate due to medicolegal implications. Gossypiboma is most commonly developed in cases of emergency situations, disorganization within the operation room, immediate unplanned change in the surgical procedure, change in surgical team or scrub nurses, quick sponge counts, long operations, inexperienced staff, unstable patient and obesity.³⁸ In order to avoid the dilemma of any medicolegal consequences, prevention of gossypiboma can be done by several methods. Simply, it can be done by thorough pack count and tagging the packs with markers. Also, new technologies are being developed such as an electronic article surveillance system which uses a tagged surgical sponge that can be identified electronically has been examined.³⁹

Our study is not without limitation. The main limitation is depending on previously reported cases and articles which limit our ability to study the outcome and prognosis of such important topic.

Conclusion

Clinicians should keep the possibility and suspicion of gossypiboma, including intraluminal, in their mind when a patient presents with abdominal pain, signs of infection, intestinal obstruction, or a palpable mass any time after abdominal surgery. This is very important for whom in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Measures for prevention and education are the most useful tool to avoid such complications.