There’s an old saying: “Minor surgery is surgery that someone else is having.” Minor surgeries are surgeries that do not require lots of recovery time or generally carry less risk than more complex procedures.
However, even routine surgeries and simple procedures come with the risk of pain and complications.
Pain and discomfort are likely
Surgery typically involves a surgeon cutting into your body to treat or fix a medical issue. Because of this, pain and discomfort are common as you recover. The incision site may be sore and experience swelling. You may get sick from the anesthesia. If they inserted and removed a breathing tube, you may have a sore and scratchy throat. You may have a fever, a headache or extreme thirst. Pain, nausea and discomfort that are not severe are not considered complications. If the symptoms are extreme, they may be a sign of something more serious.
Complications vary
Depending on the type of surgery and the medical history of the patient, complications after even minor surgeries can vary. Common complications include shock, hemorrhaging, infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, breathing problems, urinary retention problems and allergic reactions to anesthesia. Complications after surgery often require immediate treatment or even additional surgeries to address the issues. Complications left untreated can be life-threatening.
Issues may not occur immediately
Pain and discomfort often occur within hours of the surgery. Post-operative complications may occur right away or even weeks later. For example, an infection at the incision site can occur within 30 days of surgery.
Complications after surgery can be difficult and costly to recover from. If you experienced a complication after surgery that was the result of negligence, consult a legal professional to determine if you suffered medical malpractice.
