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Jul 2018
How often are surgical items being left in patients’ bodies?
Surgical equipment left inside patients’ bodies during an operation can at the very least cause pain, discomfort and bloating, but in extreme cases, it can also cause sepsis and even death.
In the USA, around 6,000 surgical tools care left inside the bodies of patients each year. 70 per cent of these are sponges and the remaining are items such as clamps.
These mistakes are considered so extreme that they are often referred to as ‘never events’.
Dr Atul Gawande of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said “In two-thirds of these cases, there (are) serious consequences.
“In one case, a small sponge was left inside the brain of a patient that we studied, and the patient ended up having an infection and ultimately died.”
In 2004, US-based non-profit organisation The Joint Commission, published guidelines on how to reduce such never events. Recommendations included ensuring all surgical equipment is accounted for. However, this can be difficult as it can be known for up to 100 sponges to be used during a single major operation.
Many US hospitals have now started using surgical instruments and sponges with barcodes so that they can be electronically tracked.
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence compensation claims, and have obtained substantial compensation for our clients. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.
Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 738
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