Many different things can go wrong during surgery that can cause complications for a patient. For example, the anesthesiologist might give someone the wrong drug or the wrong dose of a drug. Surgeons sometimes perform the wrong procedures on patients or operate on the wrong body part.
Sometimes, the mistake involves the tools used during the surgical procedure. Surgeons and their support staff use an assortment of different medical implements during the average procedure. Scalpels assist with the initial incision. Clamps help hold tissue in place and prevent bleeding. Gauze helps absorb fluids. A surgeon could potentially overlook one of those items inside a patient’s incision and proceed to close the incision to end the surgical operation.
What happens when a patient has a retained foreign body after a surgery?
Elevated risk of complications
Retained foreign bodies are hazardous because they can cause damage to the human body. Plastic or metal implements can cause tissue damage inside the body. Even soft items like gauze can put the patient at elevated risk of infection or a severe inflammatory response after the surgery.
The patient is at risk of a variety of serious complications when a foreign object remains inside their body after surgery. Between 0.3 and one out of every 1,000 operations in the United States results in a retained foreign body left in the patient. Those undergoing abdominal surgery are at particularly high risk for such mistakes.
The need for revision procedures
Depending on the patient’s overall condition and the type of item left behind, a second surgical procedure is likely necessary. Removing the foreign object as soon as possible can reduce the likelihood of internal physical trauma, inflammation and infection.
Unfortunately, undergoing another surgery comes with a host of risks. Having a second operation shortly after a first procedure puts the patient at risk of an adverse reaction. Too much anesthesia can strain the human body. The trauma of a second procedure could drastically increase the timeline for recovery.
Retained foreign bodies are preventable when surgeons and other medical professionals follow best practices. As such, those negatively affected by egregious surgical errors may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Patients can potentially recover medical expenses and lost wages when negligent healthcare puts them at risk.