For many Canadians, surgical operations become necessary and life-saving necessities of medical care. It is commonly understood that surgical operations can carry risks, and there is no such thing as a risk-free surgery. However, many risks are preventable with proper treatment and medical care. Appropriate post-operative care is an essential part of medical treatment and requires a reasonable degree of care and skill from doctors and medical professionals. Unfortunately, mistakes and negligent treatment by surgeons, doctors, nurses, and medical professionals can cause post-operative complications that leave lasting impacts on the lives of patients.
It is important to remember that not all post-operative complications are caused by mistakes or medical negligence. When considering legal action regarding post-operative complications, or the management of post-operative complications, it is important to consult with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer who can review your case and help you determine if legal action is the right course for you.
Surgical Site Infections
One of the most common post-operative complications that may arise following surgery is a surgical site infection. A surgical site infection occurs when bacteria enter the body during or following a surgical operation and causes infection in the part of the body where the operation took place. Surgical site infections can be superficial, where the infection is confined to the skin at the incision site, or they can occur beneath the skin and infect the organs and tissues exposed by the surgery. The risk of surgical site infections can be largely managed and mitigated by meticulous surgical care. When doctors and nurses are imprecise during surgery, or do not provide adequate post-operative wound care, patients are at an increased risk of developing serious post-operative infections.
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are trained to watch for signs of surgical site infections and respond promptly. Classic signs of visible surgical site infections include redness, swelling, fever, foul odor, and draining fluid or pus from the wound. These signs are known as “immune responses”. When bacteria enter the body, the immune system will trigger immune responses to target and fight against the infection. When doctors or nurses miss the signs of infection, the infection is given time to spread and progress.
Post-operative infections can be caused by many factors including improper sterilization of surgical equipment, improper surgical technique, failure to prescribe prophylactic antibiotics following surgery, and improper post-operative wound care. Not all surgical site infections are the result of medical negligence, some are unavoidable risks of surgical procedures. However, when a patient develops a surgical site infection, the doctors and nurses must diagnose and treat the infection quickly in order to prevent the infection from spreading through the body and causing sepsis.
Post-Operative Sepsis
Sepsis, also known as “septicemia”, is a widespread immune reaction to infection of the blood. Any infection has the potential to develop into sepsis if it is not treated properly. When an infection is not treated promptly, the bacteria may spread from the infected skin and tissue into the blood stream. As the blood circulates in the body, the infection is carried with it. Sepsis can be very dangerous and is characterized by conditions known as tachycardia (very high heart rate) and hypotension (extremely low blood pressure).
When a patient with sepsis experiences tachycardia and hypotension, it is known as “septic shock”. In cases of septic shock, the tissues and muscles in the body do not receive enough healthy oxygenated blood and can become oxygen-starved. This can lead to organ damage or, in serious cases, organ failure, brain damage, and tissue death. Patients with post-operative infections should be treated promptly to ensure that the infection does not cause sepsis.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition. Without timely intervention and treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, loss of limbs or extremities, or death. To diagnose sepsis, doctors will use a combination of physical examinations, laboratory testing, and diagnostic imaging. Patients diagnosed with sepsis will most often be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for careful monitoring and treatment with antibiotics, oxygen, and fluids.
When to Speak with a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
In order to be successful in a medical malpractice claim regarding a serious post-surgical infection or sepsis, an individual must be able to prove that the harm or infection was caused by a doctor or nurse’s negligence. This is a legal element known as “causation”. It is important to remember that not every post-operative infection is caused by medical negligence, and it is critical to consult with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer when considering legal action. The lawyers at BIMMA have experience reviewing cases of post-operative infections and sepsis, and can provide a no-obligation opinion on whether or not causation is likely to be proven in your case.
When post-operative infections are missed, the consequences can be dangerous. If you or a loved one experienced sepsis as a result of a post-operative infection, the lawyers at BIMMA will be happy to meet with you and help decide whether legal action is in your best interest.
