Complications Beyond Borders: A Case Study on a Retained Surgical Towel Leading to an Intra-abdominal Abscess Post-hysterectomy.

Dallin Judd, Jaden Hawes, Jake Oldham, Brenton Stucki, Bryant Boyack DO

Abstract readCase Reports

In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Dallin JuddMedicine, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, USA.

Jaden HawesMedicine, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, USA.

Jake OldhamMedicine, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, USA.

Brenton StuckiMedicine, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, USA.

Bryant Boyack DOEmergency Medicine, Banner Baywood Medical Center, Mesa, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This report discusses a significant complication following a hysterectomy performed in Mexico on a 46-year-old woman who developed an intra-abdominal abscess due to a retained surgical towel - a severe but rare surgical error. Initially, her post-surgical symptoms, such as abdominal pain, fever, and malaise, were dismissed by her surgeon in Mexico as typical recovery effects. However, as her condition worsened, she sought emergency care in Arizona. A CT scan revealed a substantial abscess in her abdomen, identified by a radiodense ribbon indicating the forgotten surgical towel. Emergency surgery was required to remove the towel and treat the abscess, further complicated by the presence of a multi-drug-resistant organism. This case underscores the importance of strict adherence to surgical safety protocols, the risks of seeking medical procedures abroad, and the critical need for thorough postoperative monitoring and clear communication between patients and healthcare providers.

Indexed as

intra-abdominal abscessmedical tourismpostoperative complicationsretained foreign bodysurgical safety

Identifiers

PMID39610575

DOI10.7759/cureus.72601

PMCPMC11604235

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.