It may seem impossible or like it is something out of a bad movie, but unfortunately surgical errors that involve a medical tool, device or object being left in the patient happen far too often. These events, which are called “retained surgical items,” can cause a patient to suffer tremendous pain and suffering, and the harm caused by a retained surgical item could be permanent.
Obviously, retained surgical items also require more surgery and medical care, which prolongs the patient’s recovery and deals them extra medical bills that they shouldn’t have to deal with. In the absolute worst case scenarios, a retained surgical item can cause fatal complications. These surgical errors are very serious despite their ridiculous nature, and the people (or their family members) who deal with this medical malpractice deserve justice.
According to a new study, a surgery that results in a retained surgical item happens once every 5,500 to 7,000 surgeries. With approximately 51.4 million surgeries performed in 2010 and given the approximate rate of retained surgical items is correct, that means that somewhere between 7,342 and 9,345 such botched surgeries were performed in 2010. That’s an alarming number of retained scalpels, gauze, surgical sponges and other surgical items that could be left behind in a patient.
Another report indicates that the “typical hospital” will have two of these retained surgical item events every year.
Even though these events are relatively rare, they are still incredibly harmful and, really, the should never happen. Highly trained medical professionals should be able to keep track of all of their instruments.
Source: Washington Post, “When your surgeon accidentally leaves something inside you,” Lenny Bernstein, Sept. 4, 2014
