CT scan shows large 8-inch cyst in a woman's abdomen caused by 'sponge left behind during emergency C-section' delivery
Symptoms and early diagnosis
According to the report, doctors discovered a surgical sponge left behind during the emergency procedure, a serious medical error known as a retained surgical item (RSI). The case highlighted the challenges of diagnosing rare conditions and the importance of surgical intervention.
The report titled 'Diagnostic dilemma: Weird lump in woman's hip was sponge left behind during C-section', said about the woman's symptoms, 'The patient had given birth via emergency cesarean section in another country, and after the operation, she noted pain on the right side of her lower abdomen. Doctors at the time told her it was normal postoperative pain, and they didn't explore it further. Eventually, a lump formed at the site, and the woman's pain intensified.'
It added, 'Four years after her C-section, the patient sought further medical advice at a New Delhi hospital in 2014. Doctors did an ultrasound and CT scan, which revealed a cyst at the site of pain. However, they could not yet tell what lay at the cyst's core. Their first guess was that it was a mesenteric cyst, a type of benign tumour that can cause discomfort and pain.'
What happened next?
To confirm this potential diagnosis, they turned to MRI. However, the cyst's unusual location and composition made it difficult to identify through imaging techniques like MRI. Therefore, the decision to surgically remove the cyst was made to both diagnose and treat the condition. The surgery reportedly required careful planning and execution, including removing part of the small intestine due to the cyst's fusion with the intestinal tissue.
What did the doctors find?
The report said, 'The cyst measured 8 inches (20 centimeters) long — considerably larger than a typical mesenteric cyst, which is normally no bigger than 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. Upon opening up the cyst, the doctors discovered a surgical sponge embedded in its center, which they concluded must have been left there accidentally during her C-section.'
What makes the case unique?
As per the report, surgeons rarely leave behind a sponge or other object in a patient's abdomen following an operation — a complication known as gossypiboma — 'but it does happen in about 1 in 1,500 to 1,000 surgeries, estimates suggest'.
It added that a simple mistake like this can occur if doctors need to operate in a rush, if surgical teams change partway through the operation, or if the medical staff lose track of how many sponges have been used over the course of a procedure. Sponges are necessary to soak up blood during an operation, but once they turn red, they can blend in with the flesh and become easy to overlook when it is time to close the wound, the report said.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Robotic surgery facility makes debut in Himachal
Shimla: Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday inaugurated the state's first robotic surgery facility and witnessed the first operation performed using this advanced technology at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties, Chamiyana in Shimla. Sukhu also reviewed the hospital's functioning in a meeting with staff and assured full govt support for strengthening the institute. He announced the creation of new departments, recruitment of lab technicians and dialysis technicians, and allocation of Rs 11 crore for the construction of a hostel. A high-end 3-Tesla MRI machine will also be installed soon, he added. Sukhu also announced Rs 23 crore for setting up an in-house automated laboratory at Chamiyana. Recalling his own robotic surgery five years ago, Sukhu said that this was the seed of an idea, and on Monday, it became a reality at AIMSS Chamiyana. With this facility, cutting-edge medical care will now be accessible even to common people. Soon, robotic surgery services will be introduced in a phased manner in the IGMC Shimla and other medical colleges at Nerchowk, Tanda, and Hamirpur. Sukhu said the govt is investing over Rs 3,000 crore in modern healthcare technology, replacing outdated machines, including the 20-year-old MRI machine at the IGMC Shimla. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Become Fluent in Any Language Talkpal AI Undo He stressed that health sector reforms remain a top priority, with no shortage of funds. First patient A resident of Khalini in district Shimla, suffering from a prostate-related ailment, became the first patient to undergo robotic surgery in the state. A team comprising Dr Anant Kumar, Dr Pamposh Raina, and Dr Pawan Kaundal successfully performed the first robotic surgery. According to the doctors, the procedure went for almost three hours, whereas in routine surgery, it could have taken at least five hours. There was no blood loss of the patient during the operation, but the conventional procedure would have required four units of blood. According to them, the patient is expected to be discharged from the hospital within 3-4 days compared to the 8-10 days requirement in a traditional operation. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
18 hours ago
- The Hindu
State-of-the-art Radiology unit brings affordable diagnostics to Alappuzha
As part of efforts to provide modern medical care to the public at affordable rates, 3,600 people have undergone MRI and CT scans at concessional rates at the newly launched Radiology unit of the Alappuzha General Hospital (GH) in the past seven months. Among them, 450 patients underwent MRI scans, while 3,150 underwent CT scans. At private scan centres, an MRI scan costs around ₹6,000, whereas at the General Hospital it is done for ₹2,500. Similarly, a CT scan, which costs ₹3,000 in private centres, is available here for ₹1,300. X-rays at ₹100 During the period, X-rays have been taken for 32,000 patients at a concessional rate of just ₹100. The State government installed advanced diagnostic facilities in the unit at ₹20 crore, within the newly built OP block of the hospital, which was constructed using ₹117 crore from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board. Officials said that only the user fee fixed by the government was charged for MRI, CT scans, and other radiology tests. 'For patients from the extremely poor category, all these services are offered free of cost. BPL patients who require emergency radiology services are charged less than half the regular rate,' said an official. The hospital installed a state-of-the-art 1.5 Tesla Siemens Magnetom Sempra MRI machine, powered by AI technology, at a cost of ₹10 crore. An additional ₹2 crore was spent on setting up supporting facilities. For CT scanning, the hospital uses a Siemens 16-slice Somatom Go Now machine worth ₹2.57 crore. Mammography facility The hospital also has a mammography facility to detect the risk of breast cancer at an early stage, even before symptoms appear, enabling timely treatment. The mammograms are performed using an Allengers MAM Venus machine worth over ₹35 lakh. While private clinics charge more than ₹1,500 for a mammogram, the fee here is only ₹600. For BPL patients, the charge is just ₹100. Mammograms are done by prior booking. A modern OPG (Orthopantomogram) machine, which produces digital panoramic X-rays for diagnosing dental conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease, has been installed at a cost of ₹27 lakh. While private clinics charge ₹700 for an OPG, the fee at the General Hospital is ₹250. The hospital has also installed a new ultrasound machine at a cost of around ₹20 lakh. Consultant radiologist S. Geetha, who heads the department, pointed out that these services were offered at rates lower than those in government hospitals in other districts. 24 hours a day The X-ray and CT scan facilities operate 24 hours a day. MRI scans can be booked by phone or in person between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Up to eight MRI scans can be performed a day, and non-emergency scans can be done within two days of booking. For booking, contact: 0477-2233006.
The Hindu
21 hours ago
- The Hindu
Why multiple sclerosis remains under-diagnosed in India, and what needs to change
Multiple Sclerosis, by its core definition, is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. This disease leads the immune system to mistakenly attack the myelin sheath, the fatty layer responsible for giving the brain's white matter its distinctive colour, disrupting the transmission of signals across motor, sensory, visual, cognitive, and autonomic systems. This leads to commonly-experienced symptoms such as unexplained weaknesses, tingling sensations, sensitivity to heat and numbness in the feet- and due to easy dismissal arising from the commonality of these symptoms, many individuals with multiple sclerosis remain undiagnosed, further worsening the brain and body's condition. These unchecked symptoms could lead to them experiencing a relapse - a sudden onset of these symptoms, the intensity of which differs from case to case. The burden of under-diagnosis The issue is lack of awareness around this rare disease: as estimated by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI), the approximate number of persons with MS in India is close to 1.8 lakh. However, only about 35% of these cases are diagnosed and registered through organisations such as MSSI. Therefore, a whopping 65% of this number may be living with undiagnosed multiple sclerosis, suggesting that they suffer silently, without proper support, and are uninformed about the root cause behind their symptoms. Studies indicate that both physical and mental aspects of health are deeply affected, causing depression, physical disability and fatigue, leading to an overall drop in quality of life. The heat factor According to a 2024 survey, 80% of Indians between ages 18 to 50 experience at least one symptom of stress on a regular basis, with women being disproportionately affected. This, coupled with India being geographically positioned in a high temperature zone, and the fact that women are more susceptible to MS suggests that Indian women between the ages 18 to 50 may have the highest chances of suffering from undiagnosed multiple sclerosis. MS also afflicts males, and they too may suffer relapses worsened by the same triggers, though generally at a lower prevalence and with varied presentation across age groups and heat exposure. Adding to this, men with MS may experience more severe neurodegeneration and cognitive symptoms - although the root cause remains unclear. Men are shown to have higher chances of being diagnosed with primary progressive MS (PPMS). This type of MS is characterised by a lack of remissions and symptoms that don't improve. Most Indians therefore, undergo MS relapses triggered not just by stress, but also by infections, and prolonged heat. Dismissal of symptoms due to their commonality in nature is not the only factor behind the high ratio between diagnosed and undiagnosed populations affected by MS; lack of awareness among the public and healthcare providers, uneven access to specialist neurologists and MRI diagnostics, and limited data systems for tracking the disease nationwide all contribute to the problem. A scalable solution To bridge this gap, especially in rural settings, one scalable solution is through using the National Health Mission's Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) worker network. Nearly one million ASHAs already engage with rural communities, track symptoms, and help people seek care. Training ASHAs to spot red-flag neurological signs, such as persistent numbness, tingling, and unexplained fatigue that worsens in heat, can greatly reduce missed diagnoses. At the same time, improving primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) under initiatives such as the Aardram Mission in Kerala to include basic neurological screening tools and MRI referral pathways can boost early detection in underserved areas. Supported by targeted education for physicians, including accessible continuing medical education (CME) programmes for general practitioners on recognizing MS, triggers, and referral protocols, we can build a grassroots awareness model that does not rely on metro-based outreach and fits with India's public health system. Need for more awareness The key in bridging the gap between diagnosed patients and silent sufferers of MS in India lies in awareness. With multiple sclerosis still being considered a rare disease, there are no proven studies that determine its root cause or cure. However, better management of symptoms through early diagnosis may lead to a better quality of life, also minimising the overall damage caused to the myelin sheath. It is advisable to check with your neurologist and get screenings done to confirm your diagnosis, if you suspect you may have this autoimmune disease. (Dr (Col) J. D. Mukherji is vice chairman and head, department of neurology, institute of neurosciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi.
