Friday, March 8, 2013

What Surgeons Leave Behind

What Surgeons Leave Behind Costs Some Patients Dearly by Peter Eisler.  USA TODAY.  March 8, 20

The article states that about a dozen times a day surgeons sew up patients with sponges and other surgical objects left inside.  Sponges are the objects most often left behind.  This problem has a readily available solution: sponges with electronic tracking devices.  However, this solution is only used by approximately 15% of U.S. hospitals.  At present, surgical teams count gauze to make certain that all have been removed.  But this often does not work.  68% of counts failed to catch missing sponges, according to a study quoted in the article.  Several case studies recount the success of the tracking devices.

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