Surgical Staples Left In

[Cagney2712]

This may be a strange question,  but I'm wondering if anyone has had any of their surgical staples accidently left in??  I had surgery on Feb 5th (TAH/BSO) for a borderline complex cyst, and all of my staples were removed 10 days later (or so I thought).  They began the surgery as a laparoscopy, so an incision was made right into my belly button. When they had to switch to a laparotomy, the gyn/oncoloist basically just started at where the umbilical incision was, and lengthened it.  My recovery has been completely uneventful; no problems at all, and certainly easier than I had anticipated.  For the past few weeks though, the area around my belly button has been VERY itchy. I had expected some itchiness, so figured it was normal. I also noticed sort of a "pinching" feeling if I rubbed against anything.  This evening, I saw a tiny bit of dried blood inside my belly button. I thought perhaps it was from all the scratching I was doing. But, when I grabbed a mirror for a closer look, I discovered that 2 or 3 surgical staples were still there!! I am a bit full-figured, so I admit that staples inside my belly button wouldn't be obvious. But since I've been back to the doctors twice now for follow-ups and to have my incision checked, I can't believe no one noticed .

Of course, my doctors office was closed by the time I called, so I have to wait till tomorrow to talk to them.  Obviously, the staples need to come out NOW, and of course I suspect it is probably going to hurt like heck to have them taken out some 8 weeks after the surgery.   Has anyone had anything like this happen??? I'm wondering what sort of problems could have happened if I hadn't discovered them and they stayed there for even longer??!!  

[SimplyStar]

Might not hurt too bad, but if some skin has managed to grow over them then it will be slightly unpleasant.  You will have to do the hydogen peroxide thing for a few days, and maybe some neo sporin. Good thing you found them , because in time the skin would have covered them and they would be embedded. There will probably be some drainage also for a few days.  I could tell you horror stories about things that get "missed" during and after surgery. You would have set off the alarms  at an airport.  Most clips are removed in 10 days, if left longer they can start an abcess. But you would have known that.  Good treasure hunting there Cagney.

[Cagney2712]

Actually, I flew to California & back just a couple of weeks ago, and they didn't set off any alarms :-)  Good thing they didn't, that would have been some interesting search by TSA to find them in my navel :-)

It doesn't look like there's any infection going on yet,  but it does look a bit irritated. I can see one of the staples clearly, cause it's closer to the outide rim of my navel, and I can feel another one way inside if I stick my finger all the way in. I think there's a 3rd in between those 2,  but can't tell for certain.

I'm glad I did find them now.  I'm not scheduled to see the onc. again until the end of May. Who knows what might have happened with them between now & then!  Hopefully it won't hurt too much. I think I'm more annoyed and ticked off than anything.  Surely they counted how many staples they put in, you'd think they'd count how many they removed just to be certain they got them all!  I realize all kinds of things are accidently left inside during surgery more than we'd care to think about,  so a couple of staples aren't nearly as serious. But, things had gone so smoothly with the surgery & recovery, I'm annoyed that this had to happen, & wasn't caught by the doctor or her physician's asst the last two times they've examined me. But, I know lots of other folks on here have to deal with much worse than this, so I should just suck it up and go get them out :-)

[Best59]

If I'm you, I will take a close pictures of the situation, and you may need to sue the doctor. Well, you never know, if you developing infections or who knows... Sue

[Cagney2712]

Well, I had the "forgotten" staples removed today. There were 2 of them in my navel. The one she got fairly easily, but the other was hard to get to.  To be honest, it really didn't hurt at all. Everyone was very apologetic, and somewhat embarrassed.  I'm just glad that's done, and if that's the worst thing that happens from my surgery & recovery, I'll feel thankful.  I haven't had any of the problems so many others have had after this surgery, so all in all I feel very lucky that I caught it at stage 1A, and that the only "complication" was a couple of staples left in for several weeks.

[medicalmishap]

I just found out that I have 9 internal staples that we left there from my appendectomy surgery almost 3 years ago. my chiropractor found them when looking at an x-ray from when I hurt my back this past month. I am lost for what to do and wonder if doctors would ever have a reason to leave those in on purpose. I am researching to see what I can find before I jump the gun and start talking about malpractice...any thoughts?

[Cagney2712]

I had no further problems after my "forgotten" staples were removed, and honestly never thought much of it.  In the big scheme of things,  I felt fortunate that my OVCA was caught so early,  so a couple of staples left in awhile didn't seem worth getting upset over.  Of course,  mine were external staples not internal ones.  If I were you, I think my first step would be to get a copy of the surgery report from the hospital where your surgery was done.  You'll have to fill out a release form,  but should have no problem getting it. If there were staples put in for a valid medical reason, the report will likely say something about that.  If the surgery report doesn't explain the staples, then I'd contact the doctor who did the surgery , let him know what was found on your x-ray,  and see what the doctor has to say.  I honestly don't know if there might be a good reason they were left there,  but I'd at least want to see what the doctor says before I'd go thinking malpractice. Nine staples seems like a few too many to have been left in just by accident,  so see what your report says, then contact the surgeon if need be.   Let us know what you find out, as I'm curious now as tr the reason they're there .

[SimplyStar]

Any internal staples were  put there for a reason,  if they don't hurt now they probably never will.  When staples are placed inside it is to hold something together, they would have left your wound open if they meant to remove them after a certain healing time.  Did your appendix rupture?   I have seen times when a skin flap has to be stapled in place to contain and strengthen the intestine.  A mesh covering is also sometimes used to seal the "hole" where the appendix is removed from. You cannot just remove an appendix without repairing the hole because the bowel contents would leak out into the abdomen.  I do not think you have a thing to worry about.

[blueeyes39]

Well I had cervical cancer in 2004 in that same year I had to go back in to save my life.What happen was I got infection (bad), I lost my right overy,appendex,nicked bladder,the infection was killing me.After a year I got two tents , ct done , blood thiner, water bills.Now I ended up with lymphatic.,swelling of my left leg.Durring all that I found out I have staples , because this doctor nicked me in side.The bad thing that got me mad was the doctor told me it was my own fault.I dont see how.I went into this doctor office the whole mo. after surgey not once did this doctor see me.It was the office people.(not good).Now Im very thankful that I got a great doctor that took on my case.
Have to wait until the 1st of the year to ask if the staples can be removed an stents be put into place.
All I now is that Im stick of being sick, but not giving up on getting better.

[MickeyVickiNumber1]

The surgical staples are typically benign, and do not cause problems.  I know, because I went into my surgery to remove a large mass/ovary/fallopian tube with the full knowledge that two staples would be left inside my abdomen.

The blood vessel that supplies the ovary branches off from the large, main blood vessel that  extends down through the abdomen  to supply  the legs .   To prevent bleeding, possible hemorhaging, shock, or even death, the surgeon placed two staples as well as stitches (also left in place) on the blood vessel,  to stop  the blood flow in the vessel, before removing the ovary.  

I was not concerned about this use as a member of my family also has staples and metal thread used to repair an abdominal condition, and has suffered no ill effects in the 40 years these have been in place.

[Iceman678]

a friends son had surgery and had staples used in corrective surgery for hirshsprungs desease, he has been bleeding rectally for months since the surgery, recently they found an open sharp staple in his bowel, mm,s away is an ulcer