When Post-Surgical Infections Point to Medical Negligence
Each year, approximately 300,000 to 500,000 post-surgical infections occur. Post-surgical infections are a known risk of any procedure. Although not always a sign of medical negligence, it does point to medical negligence when a physician fails to meet the expected standard of care. If you or a loved one has recently fallen victim to medical negligence, our Greenville surgery malpractice attorneys are here to assess your case.
Inadequate Post-Op Care
The treating physician should make sure that a patient receives proper discharge instructions and is in a physical state to go home. While laparoscopic procedures can be outpatient procedures (as is the case for most hernia repairs), others may only require one to two days of hospitalization. If you do have to stay overnight, hospital staff will be routinely monitoring you for any signs of infection. If your surgeon decides to send you home too soon and you develop a post-operative infection, you could bring a medical malpractice suit against the physician and/or hospital.
Improper Wound Care
If the surgical site becomes hot to the touch, if fluid discharge is present, or if there is increased swelling or redness, this could be a sign of a surgical wound infection. This could be caused by hospital staff failing to routinely change your bandage or failing to thoroughly clean their hands prior to tending to your wound. In some circumstances, the wound may develop a foul odor or pus. This could be a sign of a bacterial infection or necrotic tissue. If your wound becomes infected after leaving the hospital, you should call your doctor immediately.
Improper Sterilization of Equipment
Medical and surgical instruments must be sterilized on a regular basis. Hospital personnel should develop a standard sterilization process to ensure that equipment has been properly disinfected. Healthcare facilities are required to follow specific sterilization guidelines to prevent the spread of disease. Surgical tools must be clean, dried, inspected, wrapped, and placed in rigid containers. While operating equipment must be properly sterilized, it is equally important that the operating room is deep cleaned between patients.
If you have an infection that appears a few days following surgery with swelling or pus at the site of surgery, this may indicate that the surgical tools used were improperly sterilized. In some cases, you may also develop a fever. While a post-operative fever is not always a sign of infection, you should be concerned if it persists or if your temperature is above 101°F.
Maintaining a Sterile Environment
Even if the operating room and equipment are properly sterilized, the operating team must adhere to sterile techniques. This involves keeping your arms and hands above your waist and in front of your body. This prevents contamination of the surgical field. The surgical team should also wear masks and gloves to prevent the spread of microbes.
Failing to Prescribe Antibiotics
The primary physician on your surgery is responsible for prescribing antibiotics prior to or after your surgery to prevent infection. This is not always medically necessary, but it is up to your surgeon to determine if it is in your best interest. If you have a compromised immune system, your physician may recommend this avenue.
Medical Negligence Leading to Harm
Healthcare professionals are responsible for providing the highest quality of care. Failure to maintain sterilized equipment or operating room, improper wound care, and inadequate post-op care are all grounds for a lawsuit. Besides deviating from the standard of care, you must have suffered actual harm. In terms of a post-operative infection, this could include sepsis, necrosis, or permanent disability. In extreme cases, a post-op infection can lead to amputation.
Contact Our Greenville Surgery Malpractice Lawyers
While most people are scared to undergo surgery, the fear is only heightened when a post-operative infection occurs. At Parham Smith & Archenhold LLC, our Greenville surgery malpractice attorneys understand the sadness, anxiety, and frustration that unfold when surgery does not go as planned. If you or a family member has recently experienced a surgical infection due to a surgeon’s carelessness, our legal team would like to hear from you. To arrange your free case consultation, contact us online or by calling (864) 432-1796 today.