Tamara L Williams1, Derrick K Tung2, Victoria M Steelman3, Phillip K Chang4, Marilyn K Szekendi2. 1. University HealthSystem Consortium, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: williams@uhc.edu. 2. University HealthSystem Consortium, Chicago, IL. 3. University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City, IA. 4. University of Kentucky, UK HealthCare, Lexington, KY.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Retained surgical items (RSIs) are serious events with a high potential to harm patients. It is estimated that as many as 1 in 5,500 operations result in an RSI, and sponges are most commonly involved. The adverse outcomes, additional medical care needed, and medico-legal costs associated with these events are substantial. The objective of this analysis was to advance our understanding of the occurrence of RSIs, the methods of prevention, and the costs involved. STUDY DESIGN: Incident reports entered into the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) Safety Intelligence database on incorrect surgical counts and RSIs were analyzed. Reported cases of retained surgical sponges at organizations that use radiofrequency (RF) technology and those that do not were compared. A cost-benefit analysis on adopting RF technology was conducted. RESULTS: Five organizations that implemented RF technology between 2008 and 2012 collectively demonstrated a 93% reduction in the rate of reported retained surgical sponges. By comparison, there was a 77% reduction in the rate of retained sponges at 5 organizations that do not use RF technology. The UHC cost-benefit analysis showed that the savings in x-rays and time spent in the operating room and in the medical and legal costs that were avoided outweighed the expenses involved in using RF technology. CONCLUSIONS: Current standards for manual counting of sponges and the use of radiographs are not sufficient to prevent the occurrence of retained surgical sponges; our data support the use of adjunct technology. We recommend that hospitals evaluate and consider the use of an adjunct technology.
BACKGROUND: Retained surgical items (RSIs) are serious events with a high potential to harm patients. It is estimated that as many as 1 in 5,500 operations result in an RSI, and sponges are most commonly involved. The adverse outcomes, additional medical care needed, and medico-legal costs associated with these events are substantial. The objective of this analysis was to advance our understanding of the occurrence of RSIs, the methods of prevention, and the costs involved. STUDY DESIGN: Incident reports entered into the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) Safety Intelligence database on incorrect surgical counts and RSIs were analyzed. Reported cases of retained surgical sponges at organizations that use radiofrequency (RF) technology and those that do not were compared. A cost-benefit analysis on adopting RF technology was conducted. RESULTS: Five organizations that implemented RF technology between 2008 and 2012 collectively demonstrated a 93% reduction in the rate of reported retained surgical sponges. By comparison, there was a 77% reduction in the rate of retained sponges at 5 organizations that do not use RF technology. The UHC cost-benefit analysis showed that the savings in x-rays and time spent in the operating room and in the medical and legal costs that were avoided outweighed the expenses involved in using RF technology. CONCLUSIONS: Current standards for manual counting of sponges and the use of radiographs are not sufficient to prevent the occurrence of retained surgical sponges; our data support the use of adjunct technology. We recommend that hospitals evaluate and consider the use of an adjunct technology.
Authors: Lukasz M Mazur; Amro Khasawneh; Christi Fenison; Shawna Buchanan; Ian M Kratzke; Karthik Adapa; Selena J An; Logan Butler; Ashlyn Zebrowski; Praneeth Chakravarthula; Jin H Ra Journal: JMIR Res Protoc Date: 2022-08-24
Authors: Samuel Weprin; Fabio Crocerossa; Dielle Meyer; Kaitlyn Maddra; David Valancy; Reginald Osardu; Hae Sung Kang; Robert H Moore; Umberto Carbonara; Fernando J Kim; Riccardo Autorino Journal: Patient Saf Surg Date: 2021-07-12