Study: RFID dramatically reduces retention of surgical sponges
The sensitivity and specificity of radio frequency (RF)-embedded sponge technology are much higher than published reports of surgical counts or published findings of intraoperative x-rays for retained sponges, according to a study in the February Journal of American Surgery.
In the study, conducted by Victoria M. Steelman, RN, PhD, and colleagues at the VA Medical Center in Iowa City, Iowa, four RF-embedded surgical sponges in opaque bags were sequentially placed behind each subject’s torso in locations approximating abdominal quadrants. The researchers enrolled 210 participants and collected readings on 840 sponges, 619 of which had the embedded RF chip and 221 of which did not.
Participants lied in a supine position, with the sponges attached, as testers waved an RF detector wand attached to a detection console near the participants to locate the sponges, according to the study.
Steelman and colleagues reported that the sensitivity and specificity of detection of the RF sponges through the torsos of subjects of varying body habitus were 100 percent, with no false-positive or false-negative readings reported, according to the study. Approximately half the participants were morbidly obese.
“A retained surgical sponge is a serious medical error that results in negative patient outcomes. RF technology has recently been introduced to evaluate for the presence of a retained sponge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the detection of surgical sponges embedded with an RF chip through the torsos of subjects of varying body habitus, including the morbidly obese,” Steelman stated.
In the study, conducted by Victoria M. Steelman, RN, PhD, and colleagues at the VA Medical Center in Iowa City, Iowa, four RF-embedded surgical sponges in opaque bags were sequentially placed behind each subject’s torso in locations approximating abdominal quadrants. The researchers enrolled 210 participants and collected readings on 840 sponges, 619 of which had the embedded RF chip and 221 of which did not.
Participants lied in a supine position, with the sponges attached, as testers waved an RF detector wand attached to a detection console near the participants to locate the sponges, according to the study.
Steelman and colleagues reported that the sensitivity and specificity of detection of the RF sponges through the torsos of subjects of varying body habitus were 100 percent, with no false-positive or false-negative readings reported, according to the study. Approximately half the participants were morbidly obese.
“A retained surgical sponge is a serious medical error that results in negative patient outcomes. RF technology has recently been introduced to evaluate for the presence of a retained sponge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the detection of surgical sponges embedded with an RF chip through the torsos of subjects of varying body habitus, including the morbidly obese,” Steelman stated.