The egocentric surgeon or the roots of wrong side surgery

Senders, John W.; Kanzki, Regine

doi:10.1136/qshc.2007.023564

Cited by 8 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…13,15 A similar prevalence was found in medical students. 13,15 A similar prevalence was found in medical students.…”

Section: Right-left Discriminationsupporting

confidence: 77%

“…I am indebted to Dr. John Senders for his insights on this topic. 13 The terms left and right are derived from the fact that some 90% of the population use the hand of the same side of their body for writing and other manual tasks. 3 The error that the paper and this letter address is side error, meaning right-left, as it is in this dimension that we, bilaterally symmetrical humans, have unique challenges.…”

Section: Right-left Discriminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…13 Much of perception and activity is viewed from one's personal (egocentric) positional reference scheme (worldview) where locations are encoded relative to a body axis. 13 Much of perception and activity is viewed from one's personal (egocentric) positional reference scheme (worldview) where locations are encoded relative to a body axis.…”

Section: Right-left Discriminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…13 Not all people can easily and accurately deal with the transformations required in neurosurgery practice. By using terms that do not specify the patient's worldview, the patient and the surgeon can both "accurately" misinterpret.…”

Section: Right-left Discriminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Letter to the Editor: Right-left discrimination

Cochrane¹

2011

JNS

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“…13,15 A similar prevalence was found in medical students. 13,15 A similar prevalence was found in medical students.…”

Section: Right-left Discriminationsupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Right-left Discriminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Right-left Discriminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Right-left Discriminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Letter to the Editor: Right-left discrimination

Cochrane¹

2011

JNS

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“…There are suggestions that the personality of certain individuals with the framework of a team may be the responsible element. [19]…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wrong site surgery! How can we stop it?

et al. 2014

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Introduction:“Primum non nocere” (first do no harm): Hippocrates (c. 460 BC-377 BC). Wrong site surgery is the fourth commonest sentinel event after patient suicide, operative and post-operative complications, and medication errors. Misinterpretation of the clinic letters or radiology reports is the commonest reason for the wrong site being marked before surgery.Materials and Methods:We analyzed 50 cases each of operations carried out on the kidney, ureter, and the testis. The side mentioned on clinic letters, the consent form, and radiology reports lists were also studied. The results were analyzed in detail to determine where the potential pitfalls were likely to arise.Results:A total of 803 clinic letters from 150 cases were reviewed. The side of disease was not documented in 8.71% and five patients had the wrong side mentioned in one of their clinic letters. In the radiology reports, the side was not mentioned in three cases and it was reported wrongly in two patients. No wrong side was ever consented for and no wrong side surgery was performed.Conclusion:The side of surgery was not always indicated in clinic letter, theatre list, or the consent form despite the procedure being carried on a bilateral organ. As misinterpretation is a major cause of wrong side surgery, it is prudent that the side is mentioned every time in every clinic letter, consent form, and on the theatre list. The WHO surgical safety checklist has already been very effective in minimizing the wrong site surgery in the National Health Service.

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