Surgical Instruments Left in the Body

Prince George’s County Lawyers Pursuing Justice for Patients Harmed by Retained Surgical Instruments

Leaving surgical instruments in the body is a severe form of medical negligence that can lead to infection, pain, and the need for further surgery. Classified as never events, these incidents disrupt patients’ lives and expose them to long-term health risks. If you have been affected by retained surgical instruments, a Prince George’s County retained surgical instruments lawyer at Foran & Foran, P.A. can help pursue accountability. Such errors reveal critical lapses in hospital protocols, underscoring the importance of proper safety practices in healthcare.

If you or a loved one has suffered from surgical instruments left inside the body, contacting Foran & Foran can provide clarity on your options. Our legal team is dedicated to supporting victims of medical errors and securing justice. Similar to other preventable incidents, such as incompatible blood transfusions, retained surgical instruments cause undue harm, and holding responsible parties accountable helps promote safer standards in medical care.

How and Why Retained Surgical Instruments Occur

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, an estimated 4,500 to 6,000 cases of retained surgical items occur in the United States each year. The primary reasons for these incidents include rushed procedures, communication breakdown among surgical teams, and inadequate counting practices.

Surgical Sponges: The Most Common Item Left Behind

Approximately 70% of items left inside patients after surgery are surgical sponges used to absorb blood and fluids during procedures. Due to their small size and absorbent material, sponges can blend into surrounding tissue, making them easy to overlook. This type of surgical error can cause severe infections, abscesses, and other complications, often requiring additional surgeries to remove them.

Other Instruments Left Inside Patients

About 30% of retained items are surgical instruments, including clamps and retractors. Unlike sponges, these tools are typically larger and more challenging to miss, yet communication breakdowns and inadequate counting methods still lead to such incidents. Retained instruments can cause significant pain, obstruction, and infection, and in some cases, patients may experience symptoms for years before the issue is identified.

These cases highlight the need for hospitals to follow strict counting and verification procedures before closing a surgical site. When these protocols are neglected, patients suffer the consequences.

The Physical and Financial Impact of Retained Surgical Items

The effects of retained surgical instruments extend beyond physical pain, impacting patients financially and emotionally. Patients with retained items often face complex recoveries that demand extended hospital stays, additional surgeries, and, in some cases, long-term medical care.

Extended Hospital Stays and Recovery Times

Patients affected by retained surgical items require further hospitalization and medical attention, which significantly lengthens recovery times. These prolonged hospital stays disrupt patients’ lives and increase the risk of hospital-acquired infections and other complications, affecting their overall health and quality of life.

Financial Burdens

The costs associated with additional surgeries, follow-up care, and rehabilitation place a heavy financial burden on patients and their families. Moreover, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may not reimburse hospitals for care directly related to retained surgical items, meaning patients may be left with unexpected medical bills.

These financial and physical consequences emphasize the importance of holding healthcare providers accountable for preventable surgical errors. Medical malpractice cases involving retained surgical items help highlight the critical need for improved safety protocols in healthcare settings.

Signs and Symptoms of Retained Surgical Items

Recognizing the signs of a retained surgical item can lead to early detection and treatment. Patients who experience the following symptoms after surgery should seek immediate medical evaluation:

• Persistent pain or swelling. Ongoing pain or swelling near the surgical site may indicate a foreign object left in the body. Patients experiencing discomfort that doesn’t improve with healing should not ignore these signs as they can be related to organ damage.
• Fever and infection. A sudden or prolonged fever after surgery can signal infection from a retained item. Infections are prevalent with retained sponges and can lead to severe complications if not treated promptly.
• Digestive or respiratory issues. When larger instruments are left inside, they can interfere with bodily functions, causing nausea, shortness of breath, or digestive discomfort. Patients should report any unusual or persistent symptoms to their healthcare providers.

These symptoms underscore the potential risks associated with retained surgical instruments. Patients suffer unnecessarily when hospitals and surgical teams fail to follow proper procedures.

Was a Surgical Instrument Left Behind After Your Surgery?

Leaving surgical instruments inside a patient is a classic example of a "never event," because when surgeons are paying attention these events should never happen. However, each year, patients suffer unnecessary pain, infections, and even life-threatening complications as a result of objects behind left behind after surgery. Foran & Foran is here to help you hold negligent surgeons and hospitals accountable for these preventable mistakes. We will fight for the compensation you need to recover. To learn more and to schedule a free consultation today, give Foran & Foran's Prince George's County medical malpractice lawyers a call at (301) 441-2022. We proudly represent clients in Hyattsville, Bowie, Upper Marlboro, Waldorf, La Plata, Silver Spring, Rockville, and the surrounding areas.

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