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Volume 348:1724-1725 April 24, 2003 Number 17
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Risk Factors for Retained Instruments and Sponges after Surgery

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by Gawande, A. A.
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To the Editor: In explaining the association between increased body-mass index and a higher risk of retention of a surgical instrument or sponge, Gawande et al. (Jan. 16 issue)1 suggest that the increased risk may reflect "the amount of room there is in a patient in which to lose a sponge or instrument." A number of equally good explanations exist. Overweight patients, for some reason, may not get the surgeons they deserve. Increasing obesity may increase the technical difficulty of the operation, and this may place more stress on the surgeon. Increasing patient bulk, attendant illnesses, and fear of postoperative . . . [Full Text of this Article]



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