Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Counting difficulties: retained instruments, sponges, and needles.

Sarah Jackson1, Sharon Brady

  • 1Harry S. Truman Medical Center, Comlumbia, MO, USA.

AORN Journal
|March 8, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

How Have Alcohol Producers Changed the Alcohol Content of Their Products? A Descriptive Analysis of Reformulation in the Off-Trade Alcohol Market in Great Britain, 2018-2025.

Drug and alcohol review·2026
Same author

Using aggregated ethnicity categories masks inequalities in smoking prevalence in England.

Addiction (Abingdon, England)·2026
Same author

Smoking and quitting inequalities among gender-diverse adults in Great Britain: a population-based study.

BMC public health·2026
Same author

Vitamin D supplementation and musculoskeletal injury risk in young men undergoing arduous training: a randomised placebo-controlled trial.

The British journal of nutrition·2026
Same author

Changes in expenditure on vaping in the context of the rise of disposable vapes and impending regulatory changes: a population study in Great Britain, 2021-2025.

Tobacco control·2026
Same author

Current controversies in paediatric regional anaesthesia.

Current opinion in anaesthesiology·2026
Same journal

Guideline Quick View: Environmental Hygiene.

AORN journal·2026
Same journal

Air Quality as a Cornerstone of Sterile Technique.

AORN journal·2026
Same journal

Brief Limb-Focused Prewarming in Adults Undergoing General Anesthesia: A Randomized Trial.

AORN journal·2026
Same journal

Clinical Issues - July 2026.

AORN journal·2026
Same journal

The Power of Learning From Mishaps and Missteps.

AORN journal·2026
Same journal

Embracing the Future of Care.

AORN journal·2026
See all related articles

Surgical sponges or instruments left in patients can cause severe complications and legal issues for surgical teams. Following counting policies and AORN practices is crucial for patient safety and practitioner protection.

Area of Science:

  • Surgical Safety Practices
  • Medical Device Management
  • Patient Outcomes

Background:

  • Retained surgical items (RSIs) are a significant concern in healthcare.
  • RSIs can lead to serious patient harm and adverse legal consequences for surgical staff.

Observation:

  • Patients may experience pain, infection, abscess, or intestinal obstruction due to retained sponges or instruments.
  • Surgical team members face malpractice lawsuits and disciplinary actions from regulatory bodies.

Findings:

  • Adherence to the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) recommended practices for counting surgical items is vital.
  • Implementing and strictly following facility-specific counting policies can mitigate the risk of RSIs.

Implications:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Improved adherence to counting protocols can enhance patient safety and reduce surgical complications.
  • Robust policies protect healthcare practitioners from litigation and professional repercussions.
  • Standardized counting procedures are essential for maintaining high standards in surgical care.