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Surgical Complications Indicating Possible Malpractice
| Name of Procedure | Risks |
|---|---|
| Adenoidectomy | Bleeding Nasal speech Nasal regurgitation of food or liquids |
| Anesthesia, general | Abnormal reaction to drugs Injury to vocal cords or throat Injury to teeth, lips, and tongue Brain damage Malignant hyperthermia |
| Angiography, cerebral | Injury to the arteries entered Bleeding at the site of entry by catheter Stroke Blindness or brain damage Emboli to the brain Allergic reaction to the injected contrast medium |
| Angiography, coronary | Injury to the artery Damage to heart Mocardial infarction Possible need for open heart surgery Irregular heartbeat Bleeding at the site of entrance Allergic reaction to injected contrast medium |
| Angioplasty | Paraplegia Loss of extremity Bowel infarction Renal failure |
| Aortic Dissection | Stroke Renal failure Bowel infarction Paraplegia Death |
| Aortic Graft | Bleeding or Infection Infection or emboli Kidney failure or loss of limb Inadequate blood to bowel or spinal cord Myocardial infarction Sexual dysfunction Death |
| Appendectomy | Infection Bleeding Intra-abdominal abscess Leakage from the colon requiring colostomy Hernia in the incision |
| Arteriovenous Shunt for Hemodialysis | Bleeding or infection Damage blood vessel with risk of rupture Recurrent thrombosis Severe edema of extremity Inadequate blood supply to extremity Inadequate blood supply to nerves |
| Birth of child | Injury to bladder Injury to rectum Fistula between vagina and rectum Hemorrhage possibly requiring hysterectomy Brain damage to fetus |
| Blood Transfusion | Fever Kidney failure Heart failure Hepatitis AIDS |
| Breast Augmentation | Risks of use of silicon gel are excluded Scar formation around implant causing hard breast Deflation of implant Loss of sensation to the nipple and breast Persistent pain in breast Distortion of breast mound Leakage of implant contents |
| Breast Biopsy, Excisional | Infection and/or blood clot Failure to obtain accurate diagnosis Disfiguring scar Failure to locate and remove abnormality |
| Cardiopulmonary Bypass | Stroke Respiratory complications Kidney failure Death |
| Carotid Endarterectomy | Blood clots Infection Stroke Nerve injury causing mouth, throat, or tongue problems Myocardial infarction Death |
| Cataract Surgery | Loss of vision or decrease in vision Loss of eye Bleeding inside or behind eye Painful eye Droopy eyelid |
| Catheterization, central venous | Hemorrhage into chest cavity or elsewhere Pericardial tamponade (compression of heart) Cardiac arrest or stroke Collapse of lung Damage to blood vessels Infusion of fluid into chest cavity |
| Cervix, Removal | Uncontrollable leakage of urine Injury to the bladder Injury to the bowel or intestinal obstruction Injury to the urethra Sterility Pulmonary embolism |
| Cholecystectomy | Pancreatitis Injury to the bile duct Retained stones in the bile duct Narrowing of the bile duct Injury to the bowel |
| Coarctation of Aorta | Quadriplegia or paraplegia Permanent hoarseness Leakage of body fluid from intestines into chest Loss of bowel and/or bladder function Impotence in males |
| Colon Surgery | Infection of the incision Intra-abdominal abscess Leakage from colon and possible colostomy Injury to other organs or blood vessels Diarrhea, sometimes permanent Formation of scar tissue causing intestinal blockage Hernia in incision |
| Colonoscopy | Infection or bleeding Perforation of colon or rectal wall Cardiac arrhythmias |
| Dental Implants | Infection, bleeding, failure to heal Permanent and disfiguring scarring Premature loss of implant, or mobility Loss of bone Numbness of face or mouth Fracture of jaw Injury to adjacent teeth or sinus |
| Dilation and Curettage | Hemorrhage with possible hysterectomy Perforation of the uterus Injury to the bowel or bladder Sterility |
| Ear Tubes | Persistent infection Perforation of eardrum or cyst behind the eardrum Need to surgically remove tubes |
| Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatogram (ERCP) | Infection Perforation of esophagus, stomach, or intestines Cardiac arrhythmias Pancreatic inflammation |
| Endoscopy, abdominal | Puncture of the bowel or blood vessel Abdominal infection Operation to correct injury Injury to urethra Injury to bladder |
| Epidural, spinal | Abnormal reaction to drugs Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid Epidural blood clot or abscess Broken needles or catheters Incomplete analgesia Back pain and/or paralysis Severe headaches |
| Femoral Bypass Grafts | Bleeding requiring re-operation Necrosis of skin around incision Thrombi or emboli Limb loss Nerve damage Myocardial infarction Death |
| Fibroid Removal (Uterine myomectomy) | Uncontrollable leakage of urine Injury to bladder Injury to the urethra Injury to the bowel and/or intestinal obstruction Sterility Pulmonary embolism |
| Gastrectomy or Phloroplasty | Infection of incision or inside abdomen Bleeding requiring transfusion Leakage from stomach Inability to maintain weight Chronic vomiting after eating Diarrhea and need for vitamin B-12 injections Recurrence of condition for which surgery was done |
| Hemodialysis | Hypotension, hemorrhage, sepsis, cardiac arrhythmias Allergic reaction to tubing and dialyzer Pulmonary edema Air bubbles in the bloodstream Seizure, hypothermia, fever Viral infections such as HIV Cardiac arrest |
| Hemorrhoidectomy | Bleeding Post operative pain, especially with bowel movements Temporary/permanent difficulty controlling bowels or gas Recurrence of hemorrhoids Narrowing of anal opening requiring repeated dilations |
| Hernia Repair | Infection Bleeding Recurrence of hernia Injury to or loss of testicle or spermatic cords Nerve injury resulting in numbness or chronic pain |
| Hysterectomy, abdominal or vaginal | Uncontrollable leakage of urine Injury to bladder Injury to urethra Injury to the bowel and/or intestinal obstruction Painful intercourse Ovarian failure requiring hormone administration Formation of fistula between vagina and rectum |
| Kidney Stone Lithotripsy | Bleeding in or around kidney Obstruction of kidney by stone particles Failure to completely fragment stones High blood pressure Loss of kidney |
| Liver Biopsy | Bleeding Lung collapse Internal leakage of bile Puncture of other organs |
| Lumpectomy | Infection or blood clot Disfiguring scar Fluid collection in arm pit Numbness to arm Swelling of arm Damage to nerves of arm or chest Recurrence of cancer |
| Mastectomy, radical | Limitation of movement of shoulder or arm Swelling of the arm Loss of skin requiring graft Failure to eradicate the malignancy Injury to major blood vessel |
| Oral Surgery | Infection, bleeding, failure to heal Injury to adjacent teeth Numbness of face and/or mouth Fracture of either jaw Opening between mouth and sinus or nose Tooth fragment in sinus Dry socket |
| Penile Implant | Bleeding and infection Penile pain or numbness Injury to bladder or urethra Problems with implantable prosthetic |
| Prostatectomy | Bleeding and/or infection Injury to bladder, urethra, or rectum Impotence Retrograde ejaculation Bladder blockage Incontinence |
| Radial Keratotomy | Loss of vision or decrease in vision Loss of eye Variable vision Radiating images around lights Over or under correction Cataract formation Retained need for glasses |
| Radiation Therapy, Head/neck – Initial Reaction | Altered sense of smell, taste, or nausea Difficulty swallowing, weight loss, fatigue Hoarseness, cough, loss of voice Hearing loss, dizziness Dry and irritable eyes Increased risk of infection and/or bleeding Intensified by chemotherapy |
| Radiation Therapy, head/neck – Late Reaction | Tooth decay and gum changes Bone damage in jaws Hair loss, scarring of skin Swelling of tissues under chin Brain, spinal cord or nerve damage Pituitary or thyroid gland damage Second cancers developing |
| Radiation Therapy, Thorax – Initial Reaction | Skin changes, hair loss on the chest Inflammation of the esophagus, heart sac, or lungs Bleeding or fistula from tumor destruction Intermittent electric shock-like feeling in the lower body Increased risk of infection or bleeding Intensified by chemotherapy |
| Radiation Therapy, Thorax – Late Reaction | Changes in skin texture, scarring, hair loss Lung scarring or shrinkage Narrowing of esophagus Constriction of heart sac Damage to heart muscle or arteries Fracture of ribs Spinal cord or liver damage |
| Radical Mastectomy | Limitation of shoulder or arm movement Swelling of the arm Loss of the skin of the chest Failure to completely eradicate the malignancy Decreased sensation or numbness Injury to major blood vessels |
| Renal Biopsy | Injury to adjacent organs Infection Hypotension Bleeding from the kidney Intestinal perforation |
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