Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Medical experts have raised fresh concerns over patient safety in Nigeria, warning that lapses in surgical support systems are increasing the risk of life-threatening errors during operations.
A consultant at Kubwa General Hospital, Dr Ekaette Uko, in an interview with Africa Health Report said failures in basic safety protocols—particularly instrument counting—are allowing surgical tools to be mistakenly left inside patients.
“Inadequate support from experienced assistants during surgery can lead to medical tools being left inside a patient,” she said, stressing that strict pre- and post-operation instrument counts are critical to preventing such errors.
Health experts classify these incidents as Retained Surgical Items (RSIs), a largely preventable category of surgical mistakes that can lead to severe infections, complications, and death.
Dr Uko noted that high-pressure situations, especially during emergency procedures or excessive bleeding, increase the likelihood of oversight. Gauze, scissors, or other tools may be unintentionally retained if teams fail to adhere strictly to safety checks.
Global estimates suggest RSIs occur in roughly one out of every 5,000 to 7,000 surgeries, with higher risks in low- and middle-income countries due to workforce shortages and system inefficiencies.
She called for stronger institutional oversight, improved training for surgical assistants, and stricter compliance with safety protocols.
“Enhanced teamwork and accountability in operating theatres are essential to improving patient outcomes,” she added.
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