Introduction: Despite the high focus in healthcare quality and patient safety, retained surgical material in a patient's body after surgery continue to significantly contribute to medical errors. Retained surgical material most commonly occur in complex and emergency abdominal surgeries. Their consequences can seriously affect the treatment process and potentially endanger the patient's life. The events of retained surgical material are to some extent preventable and in some countries publicly reported, it is essential to study them as safety incidents and to raise awareness and educate healthcare professionals about prevention measures. In this way, the incidence of these events can be reduced. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explore and present the issue of retained surgical material in the patient's body, while also highlighting the critical responsibilities of the perioperative nurse in preventing such safety incidents. Methods: A descriptive research method was used, analyzing domestic and international scientific and professional literature. The literature search was conducted from september 2024 to march 2025 in various databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, Google scholar) using selected keywords (retained surgical material, responsibilities of a perioperative nurse, incorrect surgical count, perioperative nursing), while applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Retained surgical material is most often associated with errors in surgical counts and poor communication within the surgical team. In addition to physical consequences, patients often experience psychological distress and healthcare professionals are exposed to professional and legal risks. It was found that the perioperative nurse plays a key role in preventing these safety incidents, primarily through consistent implementation of standardized surgical count procedures, accurate documentation and effective teamwork. Discussion and conclusion: Effective prevention of retained surgical material requires a comprehensive understanding of risk factors, the use of modern technical solutions, the strengthening of a safety culture and continuous education of healthcare personnel. The perioperative nurse plays a central role in this process and should be appropriately recognized and supported through protocols, training and systemic institutional backing.
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