Accidental puncture or cut during surgery

In the majority of cases, surgeons only cut what they intend to cut to perform the surgery. However, there are cases of accidental cutting of other organs or tissues in the body, typically near the surgical site.

This measure is important because some accidental cuts or lacerations during medical or surgical procedures can require additional surgery or treatment and can have longer-term consequences. While some patients or procedures have higher risks than others, some of these complications may be preventable.

About this measure

This measure tracks the number of surgical patients who suffered accidental cuts during surgery out of every 1000 patients who had surgery. It excludes obstetric admissions. A lower rate may indicate that a hospital provides a higher level of patient care.

In this case, a lower number is better.