Waking up after major surgery can be an anxiety inducing experience but what if you were told that something had been left behind during the surgery or worse still, you learn this years later after experiencing debilitating symptoms seemingly without explanation?
A recent article published in the journal of multidisciplinary healthcare examined the circumstances leading to the retention of surgical items and the human cost arising therefrom.
The cases which met the criteria for inclusion in the study found that the time from the surgery to discovery of the retained item ranged between 12 days to 20 years! Surgical sponges were the most frequently retained item. Interestingly, in four of the ten cases which met the criteria for inclusion in the study, the surgical count at the end of the operation was deemed correct. Other items which were retained included drainage tubes, needles, wire and in one case a piece of forceps.
The article also investigated the human suffering arising out of the retention of a surgical item with a range of both physical and psychological injuries. In some cases there was a need for further procedures to remove retained items, recurring emergency department presentations and the development of psychological symptoms upon becoming aware of the presence of a retained item. In one case the patient became depressed and anxious when she found out that a needle had been fractured in her heart ventricle and had subsequently migrated to her abdomen where it was found more than 20 years later. In another case a retained sponge was found after 10 years of persistent pain and in a further case various investigations finally lead to the discovery of a retained drainage tube.
Whilst in many cases the retention of an item is unlikely to have any significant adverse physical consequences, in some it will and unfortunately the discovery of it can cause debilitating psychological harm.
The contents of this publication are for reference purposes only. This publication does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Specific legal advice should always be sought separately before taking any action based on this publication.
