Implementing AORN Recommended Practices for Prevention of Retained Surgical Items

Abstract Retention of a surgical item is a preventable event that can result in patient injury. AORN's “Recommended practices for prevention of retained surgical items” emphasizes the importance of using a multidisciplinary approach for prevention. Procedures should include counts of soft goods...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AORN journal 2013-12, Vol.98 (6), p.S73-S74
Main Authors: Goldberg, Judith L., Feldman, David L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adjunct technology
Anesthesia & Perioperative Care
Best practice
Perianesthesia
recommended practices
retained surgical items
sponge count
Surgery
Surgical apparatus & instruments
surgical count
unretrieved device fragments
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Summary:Abstract Retention of a surgical item is a preventable event that can result in patient injury. AORN's “Recommended practices for prevention of retained surgical items” emphasizes the importance of using a multidisciplinary approach for prevention. Procedures should include counts of soft goods, needles, miscellaneous items, and instruments, and efforts should be made to prevent retention of fragments of broken devices. If a count discrepancy occurs, the perioperative team should follow procedures to locate the missing item. Perioperative leaders may consider the use of adjunct technologies such as bar-code scanning, radio-frequency detection, and radio-frequency identification. Ambulatory and hospital patient scenarios are included to exemplify appropriate strategies for preventing retained surgical items.
ISSN:0001-2092
1878-0369
DOI:10.1016/j.aorn.2013.09.010