Gallbladder forceps found in the abdominal cavity

GALLBLADDER FORCEPS FOUND IN THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY CASE REPORT A,

J.

Attending Surgeon, St. Mary’s

GUZZETTA, Hospital,

ROCHESTER,

N

NEW

cases have been reported of foreign objects found in the abdomina1 .cavity days or months after an operation. In this patient, galIbIadder forceps were found two years after the remova of the gaIIbIadder. The patient was fairly comfortabIe unti1 three weeks before entering the hospita1. Her

Infirmary

YORK

and in distress. The abdomen was very obese and diffIcuIt to examine. Tenderness was present more on the Ieft side than on the right. No spasm or rigidity was evident, but there was question of an iI defined mass in the right upper quadrant. No fluid or distention was present. A questionabIe Iiver edge couId be feIt three

UMEROUS

FIG. I. Forceps

M.D. and Monroe County

in abdominal cavity.

fingers beIow the Costa1 margin. A smaI1 ventra1 hernia was present, A ffat x-ray of the abdomen showed a Iarge gaIIbIadder cIamp within the abdominal cavity. Operation reveaIed a Iarge gaIIbIadder cIamp, stiI1 Iocked, compIeteIy buried and surrounded tightly by adhesions which had to be cut. It was impossible to open the cIamp in situ before removing it. The h ernia was repaired and the patient made an uneventfu1 recovery. To this date, she does not know that she had the gallbladder cIamp in her abdomen for two years.

chief compIaint was a sharp, griping pain on the right side near the Costa1 margin radiating across the abdomen, one to two hours after meaIs. Fat did not increase the pain. The patient stopped eating fat on the advice of a physician. She was afraid to eat for fear pain wouId increase. Soda bicarbonate did not give any relief. The Iast four days, the pain was constant and accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Physica examination showed an obese woman, fifty-seven years of age, acuteIy ill 383