Prevention of Retained Surgical Items

Publication Date: January 15, 2016

Key takeaways

All perioperative team members are responsible for preventing retained surgical items (RSIs).
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Distractions, noise, and interruptions should be minimized during the surgical count.
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A consistent counting methodology should be used for all surgical counts.
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When a count discrepancy is identified, team members should take action to locate the missing item.
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A systems approach to performance improvement should be used to prevent RSIs.
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Recommendation Grading

Disclaimer

Overview

Title

Prevention of Retained Surgical Items

Authoring Organization

Publication Month/Year

January 15, 2016

Document Type

Guideline

External Publication Status

Published

Country of Publication

US

Inclusion Criteria

Female, Male, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Infant, Older adult

Health Care Settings

Operating and recovery room

Intended Users

Surgical technologist, nurse, medical techologist technician, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant

Scope

Prevention

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D013523 - Surgical Equipment

Keywords

surgery, retained foreign body, retained, mistake