CROWLEY, La. (KLFY) — A Crowley mother is speaking out after discovering a radiopaque lap sponge marker was left inside her body following an emergency C-section in June.

A radiopaque lap sponge marker is an x-ray-detectable thread or strip, usually made of materials like barium sulfate or barium-impregnated plastic, woven or attached to a surgical sponge to help verify its presence and prevent accidental retention within the surgical wound after a procedure. It is used for instrument padding for stable retraction, resection and organ isolation. 

Kerstin Robinson went to the hospital to have her baby induced, but complications led to an emergency C-section. After the procedure, Robinson experienced severe pain and required a blood transfusion, raising concerns about her recovery.

“I’m terrified,” Robinson said. “You think you go to the doctor to think that they’re going to help you. The hospital trying to help you and they covered up stuff like y’all didn’t have the decency to tell me that y’all left something inside of me.”

Robinson described waking up in excruciating pain with at least 25 medical personnel in the room, but no one informed her about the situation.

When Robinson was discharged she said she continued to feel unwell. A month later, she discovered through her online medical charts that a lap sponge had been left inside her during the surgery.

“About a month later, I’m still hurt,” she said. “Can’t get normal activities done. I slept on the sofa for over six weeks because it still hurt. I’m sitting in my car and God tells me, check your charts. So, I go check my online charts. It said they left a lap sponge inside of me. They didn’t do a count, and they did an X-ray after they closed me up. So, I was already closed and then they reopened me to get the sponge out. Didn’t tell me or my mom (her emergency contact) anything.” 

Robinson said she was shocked to learn that an X-ray was performed only after she was closed up, necessitating another surgery to remove the sponge.

Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, where the surgery took place, issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to patient privacy and quality care, but did not comment on specific patient cases.

Robinson said she filed a complaint with the hospital and is awaiting a response. She said she talked with her doctor and felt it was just brushed off. The family is now seeking new medical attention and legal guidance and advice. 

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.

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