The doctor SIGNED HER BELLY?? - Page 2

[geekgolightly]

Hospitals that use this SOP are acting in a safe manner, as opposed to hospitals that do not have any sort of marking procedure.

I was working as an ortho nurse a few years back and we had a doc perform a knee replacement on the wrong knee.

As someone mentioned, it's very important to use the same checklist the same way for every single procedure done.

[Purple*Lotus]

My palms were written on for each of my carpal tunnel surgeries. It was the first time I had heard of it. They just wrote "yes" on them though, not the doctor's name.

[Stitches]

Common practice where I am for surgery (I'm an RN so I see it all the time), it ensures the doc has talked to the patient and confirmed the surgical site with them. When I had my knee surgeries the surgeon would always initial my leg. The practice started because the wrong limb can be operated on, or worse, amputated. I can see it being less common with c-sections as the pregnant belly is a little more obvious than a right/left limb issue.

[Bea]

Just for clarification. Did he sign before or after the surgery? I read your OP as he signed after he'd operated, in which case that absolutely isn't SOP.

Marking the operation site before surgery absolutley is SOP but I still question it's need in a c section. It's not like you can operate in the wrong place/amputate the wrong limb etc

[hteb83]

The hospital I've worked at recently (in the UK) only does the signing / drawing arrows when it's an operation with a Right/Left issue.

But - there is a form where the "correct site" needs to be listed ie. right or left, and if that isn't filled in for every op (even emergency sections) it can't go ahead. I think the reasoning is that it has to be in the routine for every operation so that it doesn't get missed in relevant procedures.

[Kidzaplenty]

I have heard about it.

[babycatcher12]

I'm wondering too if it was before or after the surgery. Where I work (L&D), the MD signs the site directly above where he's going to make the incision after discussing the procedure with mom and mom initials. She sees him sign it and knows why he's doing it. Then in the OR, the assistant and circulating nurse initial next to the MD signature. It seems overkill, but it is a safety issue and an accreditation issue for many hospitals. They do it for all surgical procedures.

But in the OP it sounds as though he either initialed it after she was blocked for the c/s or after the procedure completely.

[Wittyone]

Just wanted to chime in to say that this is being implemented in our OB dept as well - c-sections, tubals, etc. And yes, it's supposed to be done in the room before the pt is taken to the OR. Seems a bit silly in the case of a c-section, especially since we are a small community hospital, but it's a system-wide policy that includes ALL surgeries.

[Mamacitac]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

I didn't experience that with any if my 4 c-sections, but I don't know that it would have bothered me too much if it had happened. I can see why it would seem odd, but I can also see why it's sometimes done.

I could have wrote this! I had 4 sections too.

So that being said; I'm with you.lol

[LiLStar]

there was no writing involved in my cs, but before surgery someone asked, ''okay this might sound weird, but can you state your full name and what you're here for?'' i'm guessing it's the same purpose. It kinda stung.. I had to utter out loud the name of the surgery I desperately didn't want to have I remember feeling so defeated when saying that!
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[LaLaLaLa]

I also didn't have this done for my c-section, but my DD has a huge birthmark on her face that is being gradually removed. Before each surgery, her plastic surgeon writes on her face. It's another situation where it would truly be impossible to operate on the wrong place, but I'd imagine he does lots of surgeries that aren't so clear-cut and it's important to follow the same procedure every time so no mistakes are made.

[smeisnotapirate]

This was after she'd consented to the surgery, in the prep room. she'd just met the OB who was doing the surgery and an epi had already been placed and brought up to surgery strength. She said he signed her belly, and walked with the bed into the OR to do the surgery.

It seemed really weird, though - he was with her the whole time from then on and she was cognizant and talking to him. No left-right issue.

[workjw]

When DD had surgery on her ureters and bladder she had signatures and initials all over her and it wasn't a left/right issue b/c she was having both sides done. Since I couldn't be in the OR with her, I was at least glad to know that everyone was on the same page and knew which surgery was going to take place. I kind of liked hearing everyone on her team tell me what was going to happen and then sign her, but I can see how that would be a little strange for the doc to write on your belly. I am glad the safety measures are in place though. A little boy at our hospital had 90% of his bladder "accidentally" removed a number of years back.

Congrats to your friend on her new baby!

[Kellyh_01]

Our hospital does not do it for cesareans - only for surgeries that are on a right or left side of the body which could potentially be done on the wrong side - knees, hips, feet, etc. Marking the surgical site is a national patient safety goal that hospitals must comply with. I would give the doc the benefit of the doubt on this one.

[gcgirl]

It sounds normal to me. Hospitals are adopting these strategies to prevent medical errors - no joke when people get the wrong limbs amputated, etc. The doctor signing the belly certainly makes it clear that if there were issues (e.g. he left a medical instrument in her body (don't laugh, it's happened) or did something wrong, it will come back to HIM).

[gcgirl]

Originally Posted by LiLStar

there was no writing involved in my cs, but before surgery someone asked, ''okay this might sound weird, but can you state your full name and what you're here for?'' i'm guessing it's the same purpose. It kinda stung.. I had to utter out loud the name of the surgery I desperately didn't want to have I remember feeling so defeated when saying that!
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I'm sorry that was a bad experience. But again, it's a safety issue. Surgeries HAVE been performed on the wrong person. Sad but true.

[UberMama]

Wow. I've had four sections and have never had this done to me much less heard of it happening to others. It in a way makes sense to me based on what I'm reading in this thread, I guess.. :/

Like someone else mentioned, I have had to state my name and why I was in the OR. And I of course hear them counting instruments, medical supplies, etc. before they close me up.

[DeChRi]

Originally Posted by Marsupialmom

http://www.patientsafetyasap.org/pdf...icalerrors.pdf

3. Make sure your doctor initials your site
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons urges its members to sign their initials directly on the site before
surgery. Make sure your surgeon -- not somebody else -- does the signing and that it's in the right place.

I know OB isn't orthopaedic but it could be a cross over safety policy.

DH had minor knee surgery and before they knocked him out:
1) He had to sign the leg
2) Dr had to sign leg
3) Nurse doing the prep had to sign the leg

It looked like a very famous leg.

[MaryLang]

My doctor did this with my last c/s, but none of the prior c/s's had this.