ID chips keep sponges out of surgery patients | CNET News.com
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Radio frequency identification chips, similar to those implanted in products to deter theft, may help prevent sponges and other materials from being left in a patient during surgery, the findings from a small study suggest.
Still, further research is needed to determine whether placement of radio frequency ID (RFID) chips in surgical sponges and other operating room materials will be cost-effective for a problem that occurs once in every 10,000 procedures.
At most hospitals, the operating room staff counts the number of sponges before the operation starts and then counts them again at the conclusion to make sure none are been left inside the patient. Still, according to lead author Dr. Alex Macario, counting strategies are not perfect.
