Unilateral otitis media with effusion caused by retained surgical gauze as an unintended iatrogenic complication of orthognathic surgery: case report

Inadvertent retention of surgical gauze during an operation can have disastrous consequences for both the patient and the surgeon. Several cases have been reported, particularly after abdominal surgery. However, it has never to our knowledge been reported as a leading cause of dysfunction of the Eustachian tube after orthognathic surgery. We recently encountered a patient in whom it presented with unilateral otitis media with an effusion after orthognathic surgery. All surgeons involved with orthognathic surgery should be aware that remnants of surgical gauze after orthognathic surgery can compromise the Eustachian tube and cause otitis media with an effusion.