A woman got the shock of her life after a “medical device” was found inside her more than 18 months after she gave birth via Caesarean section.
The bizarre find was made in New Zealand at Auckland City Hospital and it has been claimed that an Alexis retractor – which is roughly the size of a typical dinner plate – was the tool left inside her.
The tool is used to draw back the edges of the wound made during the surgery, but it is usually removed as soon as the baby is removed.
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The first one used was not big enough, so a larger XL-sized one was used instead.
However, it was left inside the abdomen and a case review has slammed the medical officials involved in the surgery.
The report states: “This resulted in the woman suffering chronic abdominal pain until the device was discovered incidentally on an abdominal CT scan.
“It should be noted that the retractor, a round, soft tubal instrument of transparent plastic fixed on two rings, is a large item, about the size of a dinner plate.
“Usually, it would be removed after closing the uterine incision (and before the skin is sutured).”
The unnamed woman in her 20s has now received an apology from the health commissioners.
She had been to hospital several times over the last 18 months to report the pains, but nobody appears to have checked her properly to find out what was causing it.
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A spokesman for the health commission said: “I acknowledge the stress that these events caused to the woman and her family.
“The woman experienced episodes of pain over a significant period of time following her surgery until the AWR was removed in 2021 – I accept her concerns regarding the impact this had on her health and well-being and that of her family.
“However, I have little difficulty concluding that the retention of a surgical instrument in a person's body falls well below the expected standard of care – and I do not consider it necessary to have specific expert advice to assist me in reaching that conclusion.”
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