Surgeons and their support staff members use a variety of tools during operations. Generally speaking, medical professionals must account for every item brought into an operating room at the end of the surgical procedure.
Sometimes, they miscount and realize that they have unintentionally closed items into a patient’s incision. This medical mistake, known as retained foreign bodies, can result in potentially life-threatening implications for the patient.
What are the major medical complications associated with retained foreign bodies after surgery?
1. Infections
While items brought into a surgical space are generally sterile, infection risk is still a serious concern. Whenever there are foreign objects in a person’s body, the tiniest trace of bacteria or other pathogens can lead to systemic infections and endanger a patient’s life.
2. Internal injuries
Rigid tools, such as scalpels and clamps, can cause significant tissue damage if left inside an incision after a surgery. A patient’s movements could be enough to cause internal bleeding or a bowel perforation in some cases.
3. Dangerous inflammation
Gauze, surgical balloons and other tools may not necessarily pose a threat of injuring organs and tissue, but they can trigger an inflammatory response even if they do not cause an infection. The body reacts to a foreign object by mounting an immune response. The inflammation that results can slow healing and trigger a cascade of secondary medical consequences.
Revision procedures are almost always necessary when a surgical patient retains foreign bodies after an operation. Affected patients may incur significantly increased medical costs and a longer absence from work to address. Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in response to surgical errors can help people recoup their losses and prompt improved practices at a medical facility accordingly.