Laparoscopic removal of a retained surgical instrument

Abstract

We report the case of a patient who underwent laparoscopic removal of a retained surgical spatula two months after a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for endometrial carcinoma. The foreign body was detected on a routine radiograph while the patient was been prepared for radiotherapy. Laparoscopy allowed us to explore the entire abdominal cavity for any potential complications of the retained instrument, and the procedure was completed successfully. This case demonstrates the feasibility of using a minimally invasive technique in the removal of a retained foreign body.