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Prevention of retained surgical items
1Hospitals Insurance Company, Inc., New York, NY, USA. dfeldman@fojp.com
The Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, New York
|November 10, 2011
Summary
Preventing retained surgical items, like sponges, requires a combined approach. Using methods such as counting, teamwork, radiography, and new technology together can significantly reduce surgical item retention and improve patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Medical safety
- Surgical procedures
- Patient care
Background:
- Retained surgical items (RSIs) are a significant patient safety concern in operating rooms.
- Sponges are the most common type of RSI, frequently retained in the abdomen.
- RSIs can lead to substantial patient morbidity and considerable financial costs, including legal expenses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current methods for preventing retained surgical items.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of various prevention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on retained surgical items.
- Examination of prevention techniques including counting, teamwork, radiography, and new technologies.
Main Results:
- No single method guarantees complete prevention of retained surgical items.
- A combination of prevention strategies is more effective in reducing RSI occurrences.
Conclusions:
- Implementing a multimodal approach combining counting, teamwork, radiography, and technology is crucial for minimizing retained surgical items.
- Enhanced strategies are necessary to improve patient safety and reduce complications associated with RSIs.
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