Gökçe Kaan ATAÇ, Sadi GÜNDOĞDU, Billur DEMİROĞULLARI, İbrahim Onur ÖZEN, Zekiye Safinur KESKİN, Arzu PAMPAL

Sponge in the belly: postoperative imaging findings of oxidised cellulose (Surgicel®)

Aim: Surgicel® is an absorbable material for local haemostasis. Its existence at surgical sites is troublesome since it interferes with the radiological images of postoperative complications. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the postoperative appearances of intraabdominal Surgicel. Materials and methods: Twelve guinea pigs were allocated to 2 groups. Animals with intraperitoneal (n = 6) and retroperitoneal (n = 6) Surgicel pieces were scanned postoperatively. Results: The density and intensity of Surgicel were compared with adjacent tissues. All retroperitoneal haemostats were hypointense compared to tissues next to them in T1W images but hyperintense compared to muscles, and 5 were hyperintense compared to the liver and hypointense compared to fat and the renal cortex in T2W images. All intraperitoneal haemostats were hypointense compared to the liver, fat, and renal cortex in T1W but hyperintense compared to muscles, the liver, and the renal cortex in T2W images. On CT scans, all retroperitoneal haemostats were hyperdense compared to fat tissue and 4 were hypodense compared to liver and muscles. All intraperitoneal haemostats were hypodense compared to muscles and the liver while 5 were isodense compared to fat and hypodense to the renal cortex. Conclusion: Surgicel located intraabdominally could appear radiologically distinct. Considering the surgical site and anatomical spaces of Surgicel could help clinicians to evaluate the situation.

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