title: The retained surgical specimen, an unappreciated retained foreign object.
abstract: A retained foreign object is a preventable surgical error and has typically been considered a surgical instrument, needle, or sponge. A new retained surgical object is a retained surgical specimen (RSS). This case study outlines the nature of the RSS, the paradigm shift that has led to this becoming a new healthcare error, and steps to prevent this new type of retained object from occurring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA. smith.c.daniel@mayo.edu
authors.forename: C Daniel
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D020252:Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia / Q000601:surgery; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000601:surgery