Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Dr Rick · 01-16-2003, 11:26 AM

A study in this weeks New England Journal of Medicine found that the leaving behind of foreign bodies in a patient after surgery occurs 1 in 8801 to 1 in 18,760 inpatient operations corresponding to one case or more each year for a typical large hospital. Because these rates were calculated only on the basis of malpractice claims, they are most likely underestimates. Overall, the results suggest that, given the 28.4 million inpatient operations performed nationwide in 1999, more than 1500 cases of a retained foreign body occur annually in the United States. The risk is increased for obese patients and emergency surgery.

Rick

frostymama · 01-16-2003, 11:28 AM

Oh damn. I really wish I hadn't read that.

theyeti · 01-16-2003, 11:31 AM

[Dr. Hibbert]

I left my keys in Mrs. Glick!

[/Hibbert]

thebeave · 01-16-2003, 11:50 AM

I read once that someone had a Junior Mint left in them after surgery.

Mageth · 01-16-2003, 11:55 AM

The junior mint incident was portrayed on a Seinfeld episode, IIRC. Did it happen IRL, or is it an urban legend?

Wyz_sub10 · 01-16-2003, 01:38 PM

I couldn't find it on Snopes which leads me to believe that it's just the Seinfeld episode (or if it is an urban legend, it's a weak one).

ps418 · 01-16-2003, 01:55 PM

You'd think that surgeons would account for all of their instruments before closing their patient. Actually, I guess they do, 99.99% of the time. . . What really sucks is not a misplaced instrument or wad of gauze, but undergoing a double bypass surgery, only to find out that the wrong artery had been bypassed, which is what happened to Dana Carvey.

Dr Rick · 01-16-2003, 02:33 PM

The nurses are supposed to count the sponges and instruments; the doc is supposed to concentrate on what he/she's cutting into. By the way, in fully two-thirds of the cases in which a foriegn body was inadvertantly left in the patient, it was found that the nurse had (erroneously) documented on the medical record that the counts were correct.

Rick

Mad Kally · 01-16-2003, 03:30 PM

The circulating nurses are always sitting around reading magazines and telling jokes.

I've heard that one in six medications given in a hospital is in error.

Wrong time
Wrong dose
Wrong route
Wrong person
Wrong medication

thebeave · 01-17-2003, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wyz_sub10
I couldn't find it on Snopes which leads me to believe that it's just the Seinfeld episode (or if it is an urban legend, it's a weak one).

Sorry, I was just yanking your chain. Just wanted to see if there were any Seinfeld fans out there.

Actually, I don't thing the odds are all that bad. In fact, given human fallibility and all the pressure and stress that goes on in surgery, I'm kind of surprised its not higher. If I was due for surgery, it wouldn't really phase me THAT much. Your odds of getting injured in a car accident on the way to the hospital are probably higher than being a victim of a misplaced sponge, etc.

01-16-2003, 11:26 AM	#1
Dr Rick Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: USA Posts: 5,393	Has anyone seen my scapel? A study in this weeks New England Journal of Medicine found that the leaving behind of foreign bodies in a patient after surgery occurs 1 in 8801 to 1 in 18,760 inpatient operations corresponding to one case or more each year for a typical large hospital. Because these rates were calculated only on the basis of malpractice claims, they are most likely underestimates. Overall, the results suggest that, given the 28.4 million inpatient operations performed nationwide in 1999, more than 1500 cases of a retained foreign body occur annually in the United States. The risk is increased for obese patients and emergency surgery. Rick

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01-16-2003, 11:28 AM	#2
frostymama Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 927	Oh damn. I really wish I hadn't read that.

01-16-2003, 11:31 AM	#3
theyeti Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Denver, CO, USA Posts: 9,747	[Dr. Hibbert] I left my keys in Mrs. Glick! [/Hibbert]

01-16-2003, 11:50 AM	#4
thebeave Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Silicon Valley, CA Posts: 4,183	I read once that someone had a Junior Mint left in them after surgery.

01-16-2003, 11:55 AM	#5
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	The junior mint incident was portrayed on a Seinfeld episode, IIRC. Did it happen IRL, or is it an urban legend?

01-16-2003, 01:38 PM	#6
Wyz_sub10 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the land of two boys and no sleep. Posts: 9,890	I couldn't find it on Snopes which leads me to believe that it's just the Seinfeld episode (or if it is an urban legend, it's a weak one).

01-16-2003, 01:55 PM	#7
ps418 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Louisville, KY, USA Posts: 1,840	You'd think that surgeons would account for all of their instruments before closing their patient. Actually, I guess they do, 99.99% of the time. . . What really sucks is not a misplaced instrument or wad of gauze, but undergoing a double bypass surgery, only to find out that the wrong artery had been bypassed, which is what happened to Dana Carvey.

01-16-2003, 02:33 PM	#8
Dr Rick Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: USA Posts: 5,393	The nurses are supposed to count the sponges and instruments; the doc is supposed to concentrate on what he/she's cutting into. By the way, in fully two-thirds of the cases in which a foriegn body was inadvertantly left in the patient, it was found that the nurse had (erroneously) documented on the medical record that the counts were correct. Rick

01-16-2003, 03:30 PM	#9
Mad Kally Banned Join Date: May 2001 Location: LALA Land in California Posts: 3,764	The circulating nurses are always sitting around reading magazines and telling jokes. I've heard that one in six medications given in a hospital is in error. Wrong time Wrong dose Wrong route Wrong person Wrong medication

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