Laparoscopic removal of retained surgical gauze after vaginal hysterectomy.

Surgical gauze was retained intraabdominally in a woman who had undergone a vaginal hysterectomy with anterior colporrhaphy. Laparoscopic removal was successfully performed with minimal risk or trauma to the patient. The integrity of the vaginal vault support was maintained and the need for a laparotomy avoided. The use of laparoscopy in vaginal hysterectomy should be considered as this offers the chance to assess the pelvis pre- and post-operatively and to remove the ovaries, where indicated.