Gossypiboma: An unusual cause of Infected Wound after Inguinal Herniotomy

Abstract

A 2-year-old boy presented with inguinal swelling following right sided inguinal herniotomy done 3 months ago in a periphery hospital. The swelling developed just after the surgery and after 2 weeks of surgery, pus started oozing out of the wound. Patient had been taking antibiotics since then but the swelling didn’t resolve. On examination, it was slightly tender, tense and non-cystic swelling with oozing of pus when compressed (Fig.1). His x-ray of pelvis showed haziness at right pubic region and differential included osteomyelitis. Ultrasound of the swelling showed it as a mixed echogenicity area, limited to subcutaneous plane and not extending to bone. Per-operatively, pus was present inside the wound and a (10 x 10 cm) retained gauze piece was retrieved (Fig.1). Wound was washed with saline and left for secondary healing. Patient was followed up till 3rd week of surgery. His wound healed completely.