Story perspectives

1 in 5,000 Surgeries Leads to Retained Items, Study Finds

3/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

A University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) study estimates Surgically Retained Items occur in about one in 5,000 inpatient surgeries, totaling roughly 1,500 cases annually in the United States.
Surgically Retained Items can cause illness and require additional surgeries.
A 2024 Joint Commission study found 16 fatal events among 772 SRI incidents.
Victoria Steelman, University of Iowa, emphasizes the need for continued efforts to address Surgically Retained Items.

1 of 1

Story summary

A University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) study estimates Surgically Retained Items occur in about one in 5,000 inpatient surgeries, totaling roughly 1,500 cases annually in the United States.
Surgically Retained Items can cause illness and require additional surgeries.
A 2024 Joint Commission study found 16 fatal events among 772 SRI incidents.
Victoria Steelman, University of Iowa, emphasizes the need for continued efforts to address Surgically Retained Items.