Radiopaque gauze migrating into the intestine – a case presentation

Despite the meticulous monitoring of surgical material using the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, gauze sponges and surgical instruments continue to be left inside patients after operations. It is an important issue for surgeons, operating room nurses and the entire medical team. Foreign bodies retained in the system may cause many disorders and result in potentially serious consequences for patients, including death. As well as this, further procedures are needed to remove them and treat any subsequent complications. Retained foreign bodies are rare, but intraluminal migration of the foreign body should be considered extraordinary. Very few cases have been reported so far. The authors believe that it is desirable to perform a wide range of diagnostic imaging in such cases.