Retained surgical items (e.g. sponges, needles, and instruments) remain the most frequently reported serious adverse event for five of the last six years. Retained surgical sponges have resulted in negative patient outcomes (reoperation, readmission/prolonged hospital stay, infection, fistulas/ bowel obstructions, and death). The national standard for prevention of retained surgical sponges relies heavily on manual counting several times before, during, and after the surgical procedure. If a sponge is missing, a series of steps are taken to reconcile the count. These steps require extra time and pull personnel away from other competing priorities. If the final closing count remains incorrect, it is common practice to obtain an intraoperative radiograph to rule out retention of a surgical sponge. This X-Ray is expensive and increases the time required for the surgery. Novel technology using a radiofrequency (RF) is now available for detecting and preventing retained surgical sponges. The objective of this study is to evaluate the in-use effectiveness of a radiofrequency (RF) surgical sponge detection system for reducing the cost of searching for sponges and prevention of incorrect counts.
Sex
ALL
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The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Time spent searching for sponges
Timeframe: 6 months after study start
Cost of time spent searching for sponges
Timeframe: 6 months after study start
Time spent using radiography to rule out the presence of a retained sponge
Timeframe: 6 months after study start
Cost of using radiography to rule out the presence of a retained sponge
Timeframe: 6 months after study start
Incorrect final counts
Timeframe: 6 months after study start