What is surgical count?

Surgical counting is a manual process to count the mate- rials used in the sterile field to prevent retained surgical items in patients during surgery (Rowlands 2012). Cases of retained surgical items cause physical, emotional and financial consequences for patients and healthcare ser- vices (Egorova et al. 2008).Click to see full answer. Subsequently, one may also ask, what is the purpose of a surgical count?Its purpose is twofold1: to ensure that item such as surgical instruments, sponges and sutures are not retained in the patients’ surgical wound, and to ensure that instruments are not accidentally discarded with rubbish and drapes at the end of the procedure, necessitating replacement.Subsequently, question is, who is responsible for sponge count in surgery? Per hospital policy, a laparotomy involved three distinct “counts” of instruments and lap pad sponges performed by the circulating and scrub nurses. An initial count was conducted to determine the number of instruments and sponges circulating in the operating room. Also, what must be counted during the surgical count? All items should be separated completely during a count. Counts should be performed in a consistent sequence, for example, sponges, sharps, miscellaneous items and instruments at the surgical site and immediate area, then the instrument stand, the back table and discarded items.What is intraoperative count?Purpose. These recommended practices provide guidance to perioperative nurses in performing sponge, sharp, and instrument counts in their practice settings. Counts are performed to account for all items and to lessen the potential for injury to the patient as a result of a retained foreign body.