Left Behind: Medical Devices Left Inside Patients 1,000 Times Each Year
January 24th, 2008 joshua
Medical devices, or at least pieces of them, are left inside patients about 1,000 times a year, according to a report from the Food and Drug Administration.
This physician foul-up can lead to infection, perforation, blood vessel obstruction and even death. The Colorado Springs Business Journal also reports that an MRI for a patient with a device inside them can cause painful results.
The MRI will cause the device to move if it’s metal, and also to heat up, causing burns to tissues inside the body.
Currently the FDA requires a hospital to report any serious injury or death related to a medical device. It does not, however, require a report for a device left inside the body.or adverse effects of the device. It does encourage the report, though.
Reports to the FDA can be made at its Web site, or by calling 800-FDA-1088.
