Small bowel obstruction due to intraluminal gossypiboma after cesarean section: case report and literature review

Caballero-Alvarado J.; Valdiviezo J.A.; Zavaleta-Corvera C.; Lau-Torres V.; Lozano-Peralta K. · Journal of Surgical Case Reports (2026) · DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjag266

Resumen

Gossypiboma, also known as textiloma, is a retained surgical sponge and represents a rare but serious postoperative complication. Complete transmural migration into the intestinal lumen is extremely uncommon and may manifest as small bowel obstruction. We report the case of a 41-year-old woman with a history of cesarean section performed 10 months earlier who presented with diffuse abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and vomiting. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a 20 cm segment of ileum containing a mobile intraluminal mass, which was resected. Opening of the specimen demonstrated a malodorous retained surgical sponge. The patient received perioperative antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone and metronidazole and was discharged on postoperative day 5 after an uneventful recovery, with no recurrence at one-month follow-up. Although computed tomography is considered the imaging modality of choice for diagnosis, urgent surgical intervention remains the definitive treatment. Intraluminal gossypiboma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intestinal obstruction in patients. © The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Trujillo; Universidad Científica del Sur; Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego