Surgery is among the most sensitive treatment methods, and as such, operating room procedures should be followed meticulously to minimize risks and guarantee patient safety.
Despite these precautions, surgical errors can occur, leading to various complications and sometimes resulting in injuries to the patient. Injuries that may arise due to surgical errors include the following.
1. Severed/ damaged nerves
During surgery, nerves can inadvertently be severed or damaged due to surgical instruments, improper technique or errors in anatomical identification. Such injuries can result in significant consequences for patients, including chronic pain, loss of motor function or sensory deficits that may affect daily life and overall quality of life.
2. Punctured body organs
The slightest mistake during surgery can lead to the puncturing of body organs, such as the lungs, intestines or blood vessels. This can occur due to mishandling of surgical instruments, improper positioning of instruments or the patient or inadequate visualization of the surgical site. Punctured organs can cause internal bleeding and infection and require additional surgeries to repair the damage.
3. Excessive bleeding
Failure to adequately control bleeding during surgery can lead to excessive blood loss, which poses serious risks to the patient’s health. This can result from nicked blood vessels, improper suture techniques or underlying bleeding disorders not properly managed preoperatively. Excessive bleeding can necessitate blood transfusions, prolong recovery time and increase the risk of complications.
4. Surgical infections
Improper sterilization of surgical instruments or inadequate adherence to proper hygiene practices can lead to surgical site infections (SSIs). Infections can be mild to severe, potentially causing fever, pain, inflammation and in extreme cases, sepsis. SSIs prolong hospital stays, necessitate additional treatments like antibiotics or drainage procedures and can delay recovery.
Victims can pursue justice and compensation by filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against the negligent healthcare providers and institutions responsible for the surgical errors.
