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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 3. 2. 1. The Origins of James and Scott’s Partnership Taking Each Moment as It Comes Our 7th Annual Turkey Giveaway The Dangers of Sports Concussions New Law Protects Veterans and Families
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When Surgeons Leave Objects Inside Patients
What’s Left Behind THE DANGERS OF RETAINED MEDICAL OBJECTS
We all know that mistakes occur, but when our lives are on the line, we expect doctors to do everything they can to keep us safe. So, it makes sense that unintended retention of a foreign object (URFO) inside a patient after surgery is considered a “never event,” or one that should happen 0% of the time. Their entirely preventable nature makes the frequency of URFOs even more shocking. Most official estimates suggest foreign objects are retained in every 1 in 100 to 1 in 5,000 surgeries. But a 2008 study in the medical journal Annals of Surgery suggested the incidence is as common as 12.5% of surgeries. A 2015 study argued that foreign objects are left behind almost 40 times a week. Accurately tracking URFOs is difficult because most surgeons and hospitals avoid self-reporting errors, but the incidence is far more frequent than “never.” Medical teams use hundreds of instruments throughout a surgery. Many are placed inside a patient’s body to assist with the procedure. Problems occur when doctors fail to remove all of the objects before stitching up a patient. Sponges, gauze, and cotton swabs used to soak up blood are the most common objects left behind. But URFOs also include larger objects like clamps, retractors, pins, and scissors.
Since pain is normal after surgery, many people don’t immediately realize something is wrong. Problems can also take months or even years to develop. But URFOs can be deadly. Soft objects like sponges often accumulate bacteria and cause dangerous infections. Meanwhile, metal objects can puncture organs. URFO symptoms include pain that doesn’t resolve after several weeks, difficulty eating or breathing, constipation or bloody stools, a discolored incision site, and an overall decline
in health following surgery. Some patients even report “feeling something” inside their bodies. If you suspect a URFO, seek immediate care from a new doctor — not the one who performed your surgery. And just as importantly, don’t delay in seeking legal representation. URFO cases can cause thousands in medical bills in addition to pain and suffering. Evans Moore has extensive
experience with medical malpractice cases concerning retained objects, and we can help victims receive the compensation they deserve.
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