Top five Postoperative Complications To Look Out For
Wound infections — According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control, would infections can be seen in anywhere from 2 to 7 percent of patients after this kind of surgery. Research by Debra Malone and colleagues published in the Journal of Surgical Research in 2002 suggests that certain risk factors like diabetes put patients at a higher risk.
Wound dehiscence — Dehiscence is the term used to describe a wound that partly or completely opens up on its own shortly after surgery. It only occurs in about 0.5 percent of cases, but presents a major risk to the patient. A study by Theodoros E. Pavlidis and colleagues published in the European Journal of Surgery in 2001 suggests that obesity is a risk factor for this.
Post-operative Pneumonia — This is a risk seen particularly after abdominal surgeries, because patients don’t take deep breaths and can’t cough properly after surgery, due to pain. This can result in some lung collapse, which predisposes to pneumonia.
Peri-Operative Heart Attack — A surgery can put a lot of strain on the heart, and up to 3 to 5 percent of patients can have a heart attack, (called a “myocardial infarctionâ€) during or after surgery.
Blood Clots — Deep venous thrombosis is the term we use for blood clots in the large veins, usually occurring in the legs when a patient is bedbound after surgery. These clots can travel to the lungs, called a “pulmonary embolism,†which is life-threatening. We often give patients blood thinners and get them on their feet as soon as possible to prevent this.
