M A R C H 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 8 1
A
cannula fragment was discovered in a patient's knee 6
years after his arthroscopy. A surgical sponge was
found lodged in a patient's abdomen 4 years after her
hysterectomy. A gastric band was detected during a
sleeve gastrectomy conversion. Every year, an estimat-
ed 4,500 to 6,000 cases of retained surgical items are reported in the
United States: soft goods, sharps, instruments and small miscella-
neous items.
The manual counting of surgical sponges, sharps and instruments is
susceptible to human error; that's why we haven't been able to elimi-
Define the roles and responsibilities each team member has in the
counting process.
Mary C. Fearon, MSN, RN, CNOR | Denver, Colo.
• LOST AND FOUND X-ray detectable sponges are sometimes
easier to spot in the surgical wound.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
