Foreign body granuloma caused by gauze fibers: a rare cause of chronic postoperative ileus following cytoreductive surgery for pseudomyxoma peritonei.

Abstract

Foreign body granuloma (FBG) is an inflammatory reaction to an exogenous agent. This entity is well known on the cutaneous organ but very rarely described in the abdominal cavity. We report three clinical cases of intraperitoneal FBG following major debulking of pseudomyxoma and intraperitoneal hyperthermia chemotherapy. The symptoms of FBG were a prolonged postoperative ileus (POI) requiring complex repeat surgery. The intestine was retracted by fibrous tissue with several small granulomas at the center. The granulomatous reaction was established by histopathology and the foreign body was clearly and secondarily identified as gauze fibers. Such cases have never been described before and open discussion is needed about the obstruction mechanism, the role played by large peritonectomies, the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on malfunctions in material devices usually considered safe, and methods to ensure patient safety.