Tattooing and the risk of wrong-site ear surgery.
Wrong-site surgery could occur in cases of bilateral pathology or in patients with normal tympanic membranes such as those undergoing stapedectomy. This report highlights the pitfalls in current surgical checklists despite best efforts being put into their design. The practice of marking the earlobe in ear surgery may be less safe than using larger arrows on the neck to indicate the side of surgery.
Srouji
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I
ENT Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, UK. ibs@doctors.org.uk
Prinsley
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P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D010355:Patient Identification Systems / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013201:Stapes Surgery; D013653:Tattooing