title: Real-time monitoring for detection of retained surgical sponges and team motion in the surgical operation room using radio-frequency-identification (RFID) technology: a preclinical evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Technical progress in the surgical operating room (OR) increases constantly, facilitating the development of intelligent OR systems functioning as "safety backup" in the background of surgery. Precondition is comprehensive data retrieval to identify imminent risky situations and inaugurate adequate security mechanisms. Radio-frequency-identification (RFID) technology may have the potential to meet these demands.
  
  
  METHODS
  We set up a pilot study investigating feasibility and appliance reliability of a stationary RFID system for real-time surgical sponge monitoring (passive tagged sponges, position monitoring: mayo-stand/abdominal situs/waste bucket) and OR team tracking (active transponders, position monitoring: right/left side of OR table).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro: 20/20 sponges (100%) were detected on the mayo-stand and within the OR-phantom, however, real-time detection accuracy declined to 7/20 (33%) when the tags were moved simultaneously. All retained sponges were detected correctly. In vivo (animal): 7-10/10 sterilized sponges (70%-100%) were detected correctly within the abdominal cavity. OR-team: detection accuracy within the OR (surveillance antenna) and on both sides of the OR table (sector antenna) was 100%. Mean detection time for position change (left to right side and contrariwise) was 30-60 s. No transponder failure was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first combined RFID system that has been developed for stationary use in the surgical OR. Preclinical evaluation revealed a reliable sponge tracking and correct detection of retained textiles (passive RFID) but also demonstrated feasibility of comprehensive data acquisition of team motion (active RFID). However, detection accuracy needs to be further improved before implementation into the surgical OR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany. kranzfelder@chir.med.tu-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kranzfelder
authors.forename: Dorit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zywitza
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jell
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gillen
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friess
authors.forename: Hubertus
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feussner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D001831:Body Temperature; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008503:Medical Staff; D023421:Models, Animal; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000639:trends; D010865:Pilot Projects; D057233:Radio Frequency Identification Device / Q000379:methods; D015503:Surgical Sponges; D013552:Swine; D013696:Temperature; D006801:Humans