All sorts of tools are mistakenly left in patients: clamps, scalpels, even scissors on occasion. But sponges account for about two-thirds of all retained items.
Hospitals traditionally require that members of a surgical team, usually a nurse, count — and then recount, multiple times — every sponge used in a procedure. But studies show that in four out of five cases in which sponges are left behind, the operating room team has declared all sponges accounted for.
Monday, September 24, 2012
If you are a loved one is facing a hospital stay, you might want to exit this blog. If you're still here: A report here that surgeons leave behind about 4000 of their instruments or sponges inside patients bodies every year.