Nurse discovers surgical needle in abdomen seven years after surgery
A surgical needle was discovered in a woman's abdomen nearly seven years after she underwent surgery.
A US woman filed a lawsuit against a New York hospital. She found a four-centimetre surgical needle left inside her abdomen for seven years.
Jana Petriganova DeGregoris is a cardiothoracic nurse. She works at the same hospital network she is now suing.
The needle went undetected after routine procedures in 2018. These were either a caesarean section and plastic surgery, or a tummy tuck done in 2021.
DeGregoris found out about her chronic pain in October 2025. A CT scan showed the needle.
She needed a third surgery to remove it. Court documents say the needle was left behind carelessly.
It caused her severe pain for all seven years. DeGregoris and her husband want money from the hospital and doctors involved.
- 4 centimetres
- Needle size
- 7 years
- Years undetected
- October 14, 2025
- Discovery date
- 2013
- Hospital employment since
Why it mattersThis case shows serious failures in surgical safety rules. It shows patient monitoring did not work. A foreign object stayed undetected for years.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect, though the case underscores concerns about surgical accountability and patient safety standards that apply globally.
Corroborated bythenightly.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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