Foreign Object Left in Patient During Surgery Causes Pain for Years
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By
Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC
This 49 year old patient had abnormal menstrual bleeding and other symptoms
that ultimately led she and her OB-GYN to the decision that a hysterectomy
should be performed. During the course of the hysterectomy a Balfour retractor
was used to hold the patient’s bladder out of the way. The surgery
was successful and, after the operating room staff counted sponges and
needles and surgical implements, the patient was closed. Unfortunately,
there was no protocol requiring a count of the one wing nut that held
the arm of the Balfour retractor. That wing nut had fallen into the patient’s
abdomen at the conclusion of the surgery as the Balfour retractor was
being released and the patient’s bladder was being settled back
into its normal anatomic position. The patient recovered from her hysterectomy.
However, over the following years she had several complaints that were
related to the unknown retained foreign object (the wing nut). The retained
foreign object had become incased in scar tissue and had adhered to numerous
organs and the spine. Years of complaints to her family doctor and her
OB-GYN fell on deaf ears. Eventually, an abdominal CT scan was performed
and the wing nut was discovered. The patient had to have risky and invasive
surgery to delicately dissect the scarred-in wing nut away from her organs
and spine. If you have questions about a Kentucky medical malpractice
allegation involving a retained foreign object you are welcome to contact
the Law Offices of Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC.
