A female patient had uncomplicated abdominoplasty performed and thereafter developed a non-healing abdominal wall fistula. Ultimate reoperation revealed a retained piece of gauze which was removed and the patient recovered. A plastic surgery expert provided by medQuest opined that the retained piece of gauze from the original surgery was below the standard of care.

There were no sponge, needle, or instrument counts documented at the conclusion of surgery. The plastic surgeon opined that had the appropriate counts been done, the sponge would have been removed at the time of the initial operation and the complication would not have developed leading to a $3.35 million verdict.