The rules of counting of surgical material, and the risk of leaving a foreign body in the patient. Responsibility of scrub nurses

Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to critical analyze cases in which a foreign body had been retained in the abdominal cavity and to formulate rules of conduct that would prevent dressing retention during surgical procedures.

Material and methods: An analysis of twelve cases of foreign bodies of leaving and retention in body cavities was done. These were the events known to the authors of their own professional practice and giving opinions at the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. An critical analysis of the circumstances of events mentioned above was done.

Results: The analyzed group of patients consisted of nine women and three men. The undesired phenomenon of foreign body retained in the surgical field took place during gynecological and surgical procedures. Migration phenomenon occurred in five analyzed cases. In six of them, the involvement of two nurses was confirmed. During three analyzed procedures, the assisting nurse had left the operating theatre. According to the documentation, only in six cases the procedure of material counting was performed. Materials with radiopaque marker were used in six procedures and surgical drapes were properly secured with a surgical tool with a clasp in only two cases.

Conclusions: There is no conclusive procedures prompted the authors to propose their own rules to control dressing material during surgery, which they believe would help prevent such incidents.