Novel Use of Three-Dimensional Ultrasonography to Locate a Retained Needle in the Vaginal Wall.

Abstract

The occurrence of retained surgical instruments in vaginal surgery, although low, carries unique complications. Appropriate imaging to find retained surgical instruments allows for timely diagnosis and retrieval of the vaginal foreign body. The patient is a 33-year-old woman with recurrent cervical cancer who was undergoing radiation therapy. During interstitial implantation, a reverse cutting needle was broken into the anterior vaginal wall. Three-dimensional endoluminal ultrasonography allowed for timely retrieval with minimal surgical exploration in the operating room. Intraoperative three-dimensional endoluminal ultrasonography allows for accurate visualization and mapping of a vaginal foreign body. This highlights an innovative and highly useful feature of this imaging technique.