Is there an operative sponge left in the device pocket?

The following PA and Lateral CXR was obtained the day after an uneventful dual chamber pacemaker implantation placed via left cephalic cutdown.

 

One can see a radiopaque ribbon near the pacemaker can in both views raising the suspicion of a retained operative sponge.  All skin dressings were removed and repeat CXR was performed.

Pseudo Sponge PA Post

 

Repeat PA CXR performed after dressing removed leaving steri-strips in place reveals that wound dressing had inadvertently used a radiopaque lap sponge as part of a pressure dressing. Nice case of “pseudo” sponge in the pocket but certainly caused some initial stress during CXR reading!

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