Pediatric instruments counts

Are you suggesting you don't do a count for some patients depending on size? Call me an old fuddy-duddy, but I thik once you start choosing who you'll bother to count for you'll unleash pandora's can of worms. So maybe you won't lose that sponge in a neonate, but at least you can stand before the judge and say 'I always do a count and inform the surgeon of the results ... That's been my policy and crutch and I suspect would be AORN's also. Cheers

Why do we keep reinventing the wheel?

We do sponge and sharp counts on all cases. We are discussing the need to count instruments on neonate. As well I am looking for printed literature on this issue. thanks

Are you suggesting you don't do a count for some patients depending on size? Call me an old fuddy-duddy, but I thik once you start choosing who you'll bother to count for you'll unleash pandora's can of worms. So maybe you won't lose that sponge in a neonate, but at least you can stand before the judge and say 'I always do a count and inform the surgeon of the results ... That's been my policy and crutch and I suspect would be AORN's also. Cheers

Why do we keep reinventing the wheel?

We do sponge and sharp counts on all cases. We are discussing the need to count instruments on neonate. As well I am looking for printed literature on this issue. thanks

I believe when peritoneum is opened a count must be done.....I have scrubbed and circ. on neonates and our policy is to count...perhaps you can check with a childrens hospital to see what they do