Sponge Count for Vag Deliveries

[Nurse4Moms]

I'm interested to know how many nurses are doing sponge counts for lady partsl deliveries...

and...

1) what your SOP for this is based on

2) do you use radiographic sponges exclusively now so that if your count's off & you have to do an Xray something will show up?

We are going to be implementing this at our facility - personally, I think it's ridiculous.

Thanks,

KC

[SmilingBluEyes]

No radiographic sponges used.(just in csections, I believe)

physician counts his/her own sharps/sponges on vag deliveries----but I do count for my self, just a habit. If she used 2 laps, I look for 2 laps.

If she used 2 sharps, I look for her to dispose of two sharps. It's a habit really.

But I think those requiring a count are better-off, frankly. We all know stories about sponges being "forgotten" ....and the horror of that. Even lady partslly, it's entirely possible as we know.

[heyabo]

The doc at our place did their own count but i would count them again after along with the sharps. We always set up the Docs carts so I would know exactly how many radiographic sponges and regular sponges there were before delivery.

I'm interested to know how many nurses are doing sponge counts for lady partsl deliveries...

and...

1) what your SOP for this is based on

2) do you use radiographic sponges exclusively now so that if your count's off & you have to do an Xray something will show up?

We are going to be implementing this at our facility - personally, I think it's ridiculous.

Thanks,

KC

[USA987, MSN, RN, NP]

We just count sharps and instruments...

[RNnL&D]

We just count sharps and instruments too, unless doc states they put a sponge in, kwim? If they are not doing a repair, it really shouldn't be an issue.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Sharps and sponges counted.

[palesarah]

No radiographic sponges (just sterile 4x4s) for vag deliveries; no, we don't count them

[labornurse]

We had an incident at our hospital involving a sponge left in the lady parts after a svd. Pt came in to ER about 3 weeks later c/o fever and abdominal pain. lady partsl exam revealed sponge. Pt sued. Now protocol is for radiographic sponge, sponge count by nurse and physician. If the count is off, automatic pelvic xray.

[pricklypear]

We had an incident at our hospital involving a sponge left in the lady parts after a svd. Pt came in to ER about 3 weeks later c/o fever and abdominal pain. lady partsl exam revealed sponge. Pt sued. Now protocol is for radiographic sponge, sponge count by nurse and physician. If the count is off, automatic pelvic xray.

I don't work L&D, but I think counting should be a standard, like in surgery. Like Ethereal's example, I had a sponge left in me after delivery until my 6 week check. Looking back now, I realize how incredibly lucky I was. I had called her several times over a three week period, c/o various disgusting problems, and she kept telling me it was all normal. I was very young at the time, and when she found it during the exam, she just pulled it out, threw it away and didn't say anything more about it. At the time, I figured it was no big deal. I bet she was peeing her pants thinking of what could have happened.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

No radiographic sponges (just sterile 4x4s) for vag deliveries; no, we don't count them

What the heck is a radiographic sponge? :chuckle

steph :)

[RNnL&D]

What the heck is a radiographic sponge? :chuckle

steph :)

Raytex

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Raytex

I was sorta joking - we don't use sponges. Blue sterile towels.

If someone is hemorrhaging, we do have those big old lap sponges used back in surgery but you'd be hardpressed to lose one of those.

Hardly ever happens though.

steph