[thechat] Surgery Tools Left in 1,500 People a Year

Madhu Menon webguru at vsnl.net
Wed Jan 15 23:37:01 CST 2003


http://tinyurl.com/4i84

 From the "It's for your daily iron requirement, sonny" department:

<quote>

Surgical teams accidentally leave clamps, sponges and other tools inside
about 1,500 patients nationwide each year, according to the biggest study
of the problem yet.

The mistakes largely result not from surgeon fatigue, but from the stress
arising from emergencies or complications discovered on the operating
table, the researchers reported.

</quote>


Hmmm... the research method is a bit questionable.

<quote>

The researchers checked insurance records from about 800,000 operations in
Massachusetts for 16 years ending in 2001. They counted 61 forgotten pieces
of surgical equipment in 54 patients. From that, they calculated a national
estimate of 1,500 cases yearly.

</quote>

So they check records for one state and extrapolate the data for 50 states?
Doesn't sound particularly reliable. Massachusetts may be on the higher
side, or it could be at the bottom for all they know. I'm still trying to
figure out how 61 cases in 16 years becomes 3500 cases yearly.


Regards,

Madhu

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Madhu Menon
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