LNP 49 – Retained Object After Surgery: Oops!

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The patient leaves the operating room with a retained object: a sponge, a clamp, or a towel. What is the impact on the patient? We’ve heard the stories of the patient’s clamp that sets off the metal detector in the airport, but many patients find out about the presence of a retained object as a result of a medical change:

• infection (the biggest risk affecting nearly 50 percent of patients)
• a fistula,
• perforation of an organ, or
• a bowel obstruction.

Most commonly, the patient is readmitted to the hospital and has to undergo surgery to remove the retained object.

Listen in as Pat Iyer chats about these points

• How do instruments and sponges get left behind?
• Patient safety recommendations about a retained object
• Why do some facilities use techniques called huddles and debriefings
• What are the ethical standards that require healthcare providers to inform patients of adverse events
• Why don’t patients and families get explanations about adverse events?
• How you can effectively work with attorney clients to develop questions to ask healthcare providers who were in the operating room at the time

Related Product: Deciphering Operating Room Nursing Liability

You are working on a medical malpractice case involving a retained object left behind in the operating room. You wonder, “Is this a viable claim?” Do you know how to screen operating room cases for merit? Do you know the roles, responsibilities and special language of the operating room suite?

In our online training, you will gain insider information from an OR nurse, who will take you behind the OR door into the unique world of the operating room. You will gain confidence in your ability to recognize key operating room safety issues. You will gain credibility with your attorney clients when you are reviewing operating room cases.

Learn more about operating room nursing liability by purchasing Deciphering Operating Room Nursing Liability at this link: http://lnc.tips/OR  Get a 25% discount on this training by using the code Listened in the coupon code box during checkout.

 Your Presenter

Pat Iyer MSN RN LNCC has supplied operating room experts for many retained object cases.

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