Intravesical gossypiboma mimicking bladder stone: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Gossypiboma means a retained surgical sponge (RSS) or gauze piece, a night- mare for both the surgeon and the patient. Intravesical foreign bodies are rarely encountered in the surgical practice. They are the exception rather than the rule. It is a rare but ubiquitous medical error. It presents only the tip of the iceberg as retained surgical sponge (RSS) is seldom reported due to medicolegal implications. They  are usually found in the abdomen and pelvic cavities. Gossypiboma of the urinary bladder poses a diagnostic dilemma to clinicians with significant patient morbidity probably due to its delayed non-specific presentation and inconclusive imaging results. It should be thought of in patients with persistent lower urinary tract symptoms and recurrent urinary tract infections following open bladder or prostate surgical intervention. Radiological imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and management as it helps to determine the size, shape, and number of foreign bodies as well as the possible complications. Treatment should aim to the removal of the foreign body and avoid complications whether by endoscopic or open approaches. Herein, I present a case of an 85 years old man  with  longstanding lower  urinary tract symptoms who had open prostatectomy a year ago, found to have intravesical retained surgical gauze with encrustation mimicking bladder stone.