Retained surgical needle post myomectomy, an uncommon mishap.

Abstract

Background: Retained foreign bodies are relatively uncommon and probably underreported in the tropics. Largely preventable errors, they cause harm to both the patient and the medical practitioner. CASE PRESENTATION AND MANAGEMENT: A 32 year old primigravida with recurrent lower abdominal pain in pregnancy. She had myomectomy a year earlier at a private hospital in which the endometrium was inadvertently breached. She subsequently had an elective caesarean section at 38 weeks and 2 days gestational age. Intra-operative findings were adhesive bands between the uterus and loops of bowel and a round bodied surgical needle attached by adhesions anteriorly to the lower segment. Her post operative care was uneventful and she was discharged home on the 3rd day post operation.

Conclusion: Retained surgical foreign body (RSFB) could pose a diagnostic dilemma as in the case of this patient with recurrent lower abdominal pain in pregnancy. Meticulous instrument count should include sutures and needles.