Reducing the risk of surgical items being left inside patients after surgery
Official title: Retained Foreign Object Reduction and Mitigation (ReFORM)
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-10928190 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to make sure that no surgical tools or materials are accidentally left inside patients after surgery, by finding better counting methods and improving teamwork in the operating room.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $496,423 |
| NIH project number | 5R18HS029637-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10928190 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing surgical procedures where there is a risk of Retained Foreign Objects.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing surgery or those who have already experienced an RFO incident may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the persistent issue of Retained Foreign Objects (RFOs) that can occur during surgeries, affecting thousands of patients each year. It aims to improve the reliability of surgical counting methods through a Patient Safety Learning Lab that will analyze the factors leading to counting errors. By conducting laboratory experiments and exploring the impact of time pressures and technology, the research seeks to develop optimal strategies for ensuring that all surgical items are accounted for before and after procedures. Additionally, it will focus on enhancing teamwork and organizational learning to prevent such incidents.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the occurrence of surgical items being unintentionally left inside patients, thereby improving patient safety and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that improving surgical counting methods can lead to reductions in RFO incidents, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Catchpole, Ken — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Catchpole, Ken
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.