Retained surgical sponges are a difficult patient safety problem. Worldwide, the overall frequency of this error is estimated to be as high as 1 in every 1500 surgical cases. Abdominal surgery presents the highest risk. Many interventions have been attempted to fix this problem, including standardized counting methods, radiographic screening, bar code technology and radiofrequency (RF) detection systems; RF systems have the highest effectiveness, although they are expensive. A group from the VA National Center for Patient Safety asked engineers at the Thayer School of Engineering at Darmouth College to study the problem. Instead of concentrating on changing detection practice, they concentrated on the sponge itself: create a bioabsorbable sponge. Although it will be some time before this sponge goes through a testing and approval process, the authors note the importance of utilizing engineering to help solve difficult patient safety problems.

Read more