Spontaneous transmural migration of surgical sponges

Abstract

Postoperative retained surgical sponges or other foreign bodies are usually underreported. Radio-opaque materials are usually detected on follow-up radiological investigations, but radiolucent materials such as sponges create diagnostic problems and clinically mimic various abdominal pathologies. Introduction of spiral computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and dedicated ultrasonography has enabled clinicians to find these foreign bodies at the earliest opportunity to avoid disastrous complications. Spontaneous transmural migration and expulsion per rectum of more than one sponge without sequelae is also possible. We report one such interesting case.