For many who are preparing to undergo a surgery of any kind, there are concerns. Because even the most routine surgical procedure is accompanied by some risk, these concerns are legitimate. The thing most people are probably the most worried about is the anesthesia being administered correctly. It is not the only concern Pittsburgh area residents preparing for a surgery could have to deal with.

Another operation related issue a patient could face is surgery supplies being left in their bodies when they are stitched up. Unfortunately, leaving foreign objects in the body of a patient happens more frequently than most want to consider and can lead to serious medical complications.

While a stray clamp or forceps can be problematic, in most cases it is sponges that lead to the serious medical issues. Their presence can cause infections that if not addressed promptly, can lead to death. Currently, teams in the operating room account for these potentially deadly objects by performing sponge counts. There are electronic sponge tracking technologies that are available to hospitals but currently less than 15 percent of hospitals use them. This is despite reports that using such technology, usually costs only between $8 and $12.

While patients undergoing surgery may have no control over what is left in their bodies during a procedure, they do have some control over what happens after an object is located. While taking the necessary steps to remove the object and address related medical issues is the most important thing to deal with initially, the injured patient may also want to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against those responsible for the surgical error. Because statutes of limitations are an issue, it is best to consult with a lawyer who handles these types of cases sooner rather than later.

Source: USA Today, "What surgeons leave behind costs some patients dearly," Peter Eisler, March 8, 2013

Medical errors such as those that occur in the operating room can lead to serious injuries. We handle cases that arise out of the type of issues discussed in this post. For more information on these types of claims, please visit our Pittsburgh surgical errors page.