Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with draining skin fistula caused by retained surgical gauze
By Frank, Joseph D & Stanley, Bryden J·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2009·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Enterocutaneous fistula in a dog secondary to an intraperitoneal gauze foreign body.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-year-old spayed female German shepherd crossbreed had a draining sore on her left side for six months. After tests showed it was an enterocutaneous fistula (an abnormal connection between the intestine and skin), surgery revealed a granuloma (a lump of inflamed tissue) caused by a gauze sponge that had been left inside her during a previous surgery. The vet removed the gauze and the granuloma, which resolved the issue. The dog is now recovering well after the surgery.
People also search for: dog draining sore on side · enterocutaneous fistula treatment · retained surgical gauze in dogs
Abstract
A 6-year-old, spayed female German shepherd crossbreed had a 6-month history of a draining fistula in the left flank. Fistulography demonstrated an enterocutaneous fistula. Surgery revealed a granuloma that was enveloping the left ureter and caudal mesenteric artery and adhering to multiple loops of bowel. The granuloma centered on a gauze sponge inadvertently retained at time of ovariohysterectomy. Retained surgical foreign bodies can be avoided, and their frequency is likely underestimated. Risk factors identified in human medicine include emergency surgery, changes in surgical procedure, and obesity. A foreign body should be considered a potential cause of draining tracts in veterinary patients.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19258420/