Guideline for prevention of retained surgical items. | AHRQ Patient Safety Network

Guideline for prevention of retained surgical items. | AHRQ Patient Safety Network

• Commentary
 
• Published December 2015

Guideline for prevention of retained surgical items.

Putnam K. AORN J. 2015;102:P11-P13.

Retained surgical items are considered a sentinel event in perioperative care. This guideline suggests strategies such as improving team communication, standardizing protocols forsurgical counts, and limiting distractions to address this persisting problem.

• Available at
• Free full text (PDF)

Related Resources

JOURNAL ARTICLE › STUDY

The hidden costs of reconciling surgical sponge counts.

Steelman VM, Schaapveld AG, Perkhounkova Y, Storm HE, Mathias M. AORN J. 2015;102:498-506.

JOURNAL ARTICLE › REVIEW

Retained surgical sponge (gossypiboma) and other retained surgical items: prevention and management.

Copeland AW. UpToDate. May 19, 2014.

LEGISLATION/REGULATION › ORGANIZATIONAL POLICY/GUIDELINES

Preventing unintended retained foreign objects.

Sentinel Event Alert. October 17, 2013;(51):1-5.

AUDIOVISUAL

Sponges, tools and more left inside Washington hospital patients.

Ryan J. KUOW. National Public Radio. August 1, 2013.

JOURNAL ARTICLE › COMMENTARY

Necessity of a good surgical history: detection of a gossypiboma.

Coleman J, Wolfgang CL. J Nurs Pract. 2013;9:277-282.

View More