Although rare, retained surgical foreign bodies (RSFB) continue to be a significant patient safety challenge. Retained surgical foreign bodies have the potential to cause significant harm to the patient. While there are many studies and isolated reports of RSFB, there are few adequate literature sources specifically addressing potential clinical consequences of retained foreign bodies. In order to fill this information gap, we set out to perform a literature review that focuses specifically on gastrointestinal complications of RSFB and related topics. In addition to categorizing RSFB by retained surgical object type and describing their radiographic characteristics, this review discusses each major gastrointestinal complication associated with RSFB – Abdominal pain, abscess formation, fistula formation, gastrointestinal bleeding, transmural migration of RSFB, intestinal obstruction and perforation, among other topics.

Citation: Wang CF, Cipolla J, Seamon MJ, Lindsey DE, Stawicki SP. Gastrointestinal complications related to retained surgical foreign bodies (RSFB): A concise review. OPUS 12 Scientist 2009;3(1):11-18.

Keywords: Retained surgical foreign body, Gastrointestinal complications, RSFB, Categories, Radiographic characteristics, Preventive strategies.

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