Is surgery on the right track? The burden of wrong-site surgery

Abstract

Surgery is a cornerstone of modern health care. Medical errors resulting from the clinical treatment of patients are a problem with global relevance. Among “never events,” wrong-site surgery accounts for preventable mistakes with a big impact on patients as well as the economy. Wrong-site surgery has many contributing factors, whose identification is challenging. Nevertheless, it remains indisputable that wrong-site surgery affects patients’ lives on many levels, ranging from physical disability to mental health. In addition, it aggravates the economic integrity of healthcare systems, healthcare workers’ professional standards, and the public’s trust in surgical services. Possible solutions for wrong-site surgery include perioperative protocols, surgical checklists, effective communication, education, continuous evaluation of existing procedures, and the implementation of new technology.