Cancer patient in pain for months discovers surgical sponge in neck, lawsuit claims

A cancer patient was in pain for months after an exploratory surgery, only to allegedly discover he had a sponge under his skin. In a malpractice lawsuit filed against Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, that man is now seeking damages.

According to the complaint, Frank Kryzak underwent neck surgery to remove a mass and dissect his lymph nodes on Jan. 31, 2023. After months of complaining of pain, he underwent a second surgery four months later. It was then that the surgical sponge, left in by a clinician, was discovered and removed. 

Kryzak and his attorneys allege Meredith Gardner, a surgical technologist, Elizabeth Romanes, a nurse, and the surgeon, Aqeel Sandhu, MD, all failed to follow protocols and procedures, leading to the sponge being left inside Kryzak’s neck. 

Further, the plaintiffs claim Sandhu "failed to schedule follow-up visits or properly investigate the cause of [Kryzak’s] swelling and other symptoms."

"As a direct and proximate result of the retained surgical sponge, plaintiff sustained serious and permanent injury, experience and will in the future experience significant pain and suffering, disability and loss of a normal life incurred and will in the future incur medical expenses, and experienced delay in his medical care," the complaint says. 

Kryzak's attorneys added that their client did not undergo any other procedures that could have explained the presence of the surgical sponge. They believe it can only be explained by negligence. 

For more, read NBC Chicago’s coverage at the link below.