I was in Rex Hospital, Raleigh, NC in late August ...

I was in Rex Hospital, Raleigh, NC in late August 2017 for a replacement for my pacemaker and adjustments to the way it was wired to my heart. Several weeks later I returned to my cardiologist office for the removal of the staples that held the incision to removed the staples.

I had a previous operation at Rex several years before and remembered that when the staples were removed from that operation the nurse overlooked three of them and I 'found' them later when washing my head after the removal when I was showering. I returned to the doctors office and the same nurse removed the newly 'found' staples.

I thought about it afterwards and realized that in their standard procedures in the OR they do not count the number of staples they put in you, and consequently, the do not know how many to remove from you!

Well, that's what happened to me again! That's two strikes. I asked the nurse who removed the staples from my chest at the cardiologist office, this time, how many staples she was suppose go remove. and she didn't know!

A few days ago I found another staple still in my chest and thought, 'Oh no! I can't believe it!' So I already had an appointment with my cardiologist today and pointed this out to him and he quickly sent in a nurse who looked carefully, and removed the last staple, I hope.

I would strongly advise Rex Hospital to add to their basic OR PROCEDURES TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF STAPLES THEN THE OPERATING TEAM PUTS THEM IN, SO THE NURSE WHOSE JOB IT IS TO REMOVE THEM KNOWS HOW MANY THERE ARE SO HE OR SHE GET ALL OF THEM OUT

I Hope that this makes sense is helpful to Rex,, other surgeons and other patients in the future.

George Mamoulides