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Retained surgical swabs remain a serious risk despite checklists and protocols. In this interview, a paediatric surgeon shares why these events still occur, their impact on patients and clinicians, and how practical, low-cost solutions like iCount can support safer theatre practice.

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Why Swab Counting Still Fails

• Long operations with staff changes increase the risk.
• Human distraction – teaching, conversations, fatigue.
• Pressure to finish surgeries quickly.
• Bleeding and visibility issues can obscure swabs.

The Human and Emotional Toll

• For patients: infections, re-operations, longer stays, trauma.
• For clinicians: reputational damage, litigation, emotional strain.
• Even “small” oversights can end careers and destroy trust.

Why Technology Must Be Practical

The surgeon explained why RFID and barcoded swabs haven’t taken off:

• Expensive to deploy.
• Workflow disruption in already-pressured environments.
• Resistance to change in entrenched systems.

Where iCount Fits In

• Affordable and simple. No costly system overhaul required.
• Visual and AI double-checks. Adds clarity without slowing the team.
• Integrates with existing processes. Works alongside whiteboards and digital systems.

A Message to Surgeons and Staff

“As long as humans are involved, errors may happen. But our goal must be to get retained swab events as close to zero as possible. That means shared responsibility, vigilance, and adopting tools that make safety easier.”

Key Takeaways

• Retained swabs are rare, but still occur due to human and system pressures.
• The cost is not just clinical — it’s emotional, financial, and reputational.
• Affordable, integrated solutions like iCount are more likely to succeed than expensive RFID systems.
• Safety is everyone’s responsibility — surgeon, nurse, technician alike.

Next Steps

• Share this interview with your surgical safety team.
• Explore iCount as part of your theatre safety improvement.
• Subscribe for more frontline perspectives on surgical safety.