Retained Objects From Surgery

A shocking, but common surgical error is to leave foreign objects like sponges, gauze, needles, and even surgical instruments and towels inside the patient.  The result can be catastrophic to the patient.  Foreign objects left in the body can lead to life threatening infections, bowel perforations, organ damage, and severe pain.  Even in the best case, the patient is subjected to the physical and emotional tolls of further surgery, hospitalizations, unsightly scars, and medical expenses.

These cases require a thorough understanding of operating room procedures and the various roles of the surgeons and surgical nurses.  At Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C., our attorneys have successfully handled many cases involving retained objects during surgery.  Examples include sponges left during surgery to remove a gall bladder, a hysterectomy, and Cesarean sections. In each case, the patient required further invasive surgery, lengthy recuperation and the patient incurred significant medical expenses.

Minimal operating room procedures:   There should always be a count prior to surgery of all sponges, needles, and other surgical instruments that will be placed inside the patient’s body during surgery.  The initial count serves as a baseline for subsequent counts.  The scrub and/or circulating nurse should audibly count each item before surgery, whenever more sponges or instruments are added to the surgical field, before closing any body cavity, and before completion of the surgical procedure.  The nursing staff should document each count.

Typically, the operating room nurses are responsible for maintaining an accurate count of the sponges and instruments.  However, the surgeon should inquire of the nurses whether the counts are correct.  If they are not correct, the surgical wound should not be closed until a correct count is verified.  If necessary an intra-operative x-ray can be taken to locate the unaccounted foreign bodies left inside the patient.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a retained foreign object, you are invited to contact us by email or call us at (804) 288-1661 to discuss your legal rights.  

 

 

At Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C. we represent victims of medical malpractice, defective products, nursing home abuse, and other serious injuries throughout Virginia.  If you or a loved one is a victim of wrongful conduct, please call us at (804) 288-1661 or click here to contact us by email. 

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Blog for Retained Objects From Surgery

• Serious Injuries from Retained Surgical Objects
• Why is Medicare refusing to pay to remove surgical sponges?
• Technology to Prevent Retained Operating Room Sponges
• Nothing Left Behind: Preventing Retained Objects From Surgery
• Hospital leaves a sponge in a patient

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Frequent Questions for Retained Objects From Surgery:

• What is the average medical cost of a retained foreign object?
• Why has Medicare designated retained foreign objects as "never events?"
• What is the statute of limitations for a retained foreign object?
• What is the mortality rate for unintended retained foreign objects?

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Web Resources for Retained Objects From Surgery:

• American College of Surgeons: Statement on the Prevention of Retained Foreign Bodies After Surgery

  Description: American College of Surgeons provides guidelines to prevent retained foreign bodies after surgery.

• Patient Safety Initiative Update: Retained Foreign Objects

  Description:

  Retained foreign objects are one of the most common preventable surgical errors.  According to this study, 90% of cases of retained objects involve false counting. 

• Objects Retained During Surgery: Human Diligence Meets Systems Solutions

  Description: Retained surgical objects are almost always preventable.  This article explores the scope of the problem and solutions to prevent this very serious form of medical malpractice.

• Prevention of Retained Foreign Bodies

  Description: This article published by The American College of Surgeons addresses the incidence of foreign bodies retained after surgery and steps surgeons and nurses can take to prevent these serious injuries. The article suggests that most major hospitals have at least one patient who is injured every year because of a retained foreign body.

• The Retained Surgical Sponge

  Description: This article discusses the frequency of retained foreign objects as well as the mortality rates.

• Prevention of Unintended Retained Foreign Objects in Surgery

  Description: This link takes you to a scholarly article on steps health care providers can take to prevent unintended retained foreign objects in surgery.

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