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Table 1 Symptoms and differential diagnosis of inadvertently retained sponges and instruments

From: Endoscopic removal of a retained surgical sponge in a young Syrian refugee after Caesarean section: a case report with discussion of cultural and political consequences

Symptoms

Clinical appearance of inadvertently retained sponges and instruments

Differential diagnosis

Infection

Infection at the surgical site with fever, pain and sepsis

Wound infection of other origin, pneumonia, infection of the catheter, urinary tract infection

Acute pain

Acute pain, becoming more extensive, often accompanied by fever and infection

Wound pain, postoperative hemorrhage

Chronic pain

Chronic pain persisting after the intervention without any other correlate

Adhesions, nerve damage

Tumor

Unspecific tumor mass around the surgical site

Coagulum, tumor of other origin, adhesions

Fistulization

Fistulization with suspected material of no natural origin

Fistulization because of disturbed wound healing, infection, or fistulization due to other causes

Obstruction

Obstruction because of fistulization or swelling of the retained object

Tumor of other origin, adhesions

Hemorrhage

Gastrointestinal, vaginal, or urinary hemorrhage because of fistulization

Ulcer, tumor