What is the purpose of a time-out before beginning a surgical procedure?

• A. To prepare the surgical instruments.
• B. To confirm patient identity and procedure site.
• C. To discuss the surgical plan with the team.
• D. To allow the anesthesiologist to administer anesthesia.

Answer: (B)

The time-out procedure is a critical safety measure conducted before the start of any surgical intervention. Its primary purpose is to confirm the patient's identity, the scheduled procedure, and the specific site of surgery. This protocol is essential in reducing the risk of errors, such as performing the wrong surgery on the wrong patient or at the wrong site.

During the time-out, the entire surgical team takes a moment to collectively review and verify the patient's information, including their name and identification details, as well as the planned operation and the anatomical site where the procedure will be carried out. This ensures everyone involved is on the same page and eliminates potential misunderstandings that might lead to serious consequences.

The other options, while they pertain to different aspects of surgical preparation, do not fulfill the primary focus of the time-out process. Preparing surgical instruments, discussing the surgical plan, or administering anesthesia are important tasks, but they do not directly address the crucial need for verification and confirmation of the patient and procedure details that a time-out aims to achieve.