Routine surgeries may end in complication

Routine surgeries may end in complication

The third most common surgical procedure done on U.S. children is a tonsillectomy, next to ear tubes and circumcision. While considered a routine surgery for residents of Illinois and across the U.S., it still isn’t 100 percent safe. Surgeons may perform this procedure thousands of times, but every patient is different. According to the director of the Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, complications are very rare. Still, with almost any surgery, uncontrollable bleeding can still happen. Some of the most common complications that happen after surgery are bleeding and infection. There’s always the chance of a small artery being cut and simply cauterized, but some people’s blood doesn’t clot well.

In a 2003 study of over 14,000 tonsillectomy patients, bleeding occurred in 3 percent of the patients; five patients needed a blood transfusion. Some patients have a greater risk at surgery than others. Those with pre-existing issues like lung, liver or heart problems can have complications or worse, die. Patients should be up front with their surgeons and tell them everything they know about themselves to avoid further complications.

When a doctor fails to perform his or her medical duties properly, medical malpractice can occur. Rules vary from state to state, but most suits all commonly contain the same criteria: that the doctor was negligent and the negligence is what caused the injury. If the injury led to specific damages, then a medical malpractice suit may be in order.

Doctor error and misdiagnosis is a serious issue that could lead to disability or even death. A may need to be brought soon after the injury in order for the court not to dismiss any facts that may be involved.

Source: CNN, “When routine surgeries go wrong“, Jacque Wilson, December 19, 2013