Synonyms
Surgical complication, complication after surgery, infection, thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, embolism, postoperative bleeding, paralysis, false joint formation, pseudarthrosis, Sudeck’s disease, CRPS type I and type II, nerve damage
Overview of surgical complications
- Bleeding and post-bleeding (arterial, spurting, oozing)
- Local inflammation/infection with possible spread of germs until sepsis (blood poisoning)
- Injury to adjacent structures (mucous membrane, vessels, nerves, muscles, adjacent organs)
- Perforation during endoscopic operations
- Allergy to medication or materials used until shock
- Loss of function/remaining damage in the operating area due to operation-related changes in the procedure or complications (restricted mobility of a joint after surgery, paralysis, sensitivity disorder, nerve failure due to nerve severance/example thyroid: N. recurrens → hoarseness to respiratory distress)
- Anaesthetic complications such as circulatory problems (drop in blood pressure, rise in blood pressure until derailment, too fast pulse/tachycardia, too slow pulse/bradycardia, in extreme cases resuscitation may be necessary) or respiratory difficulties (vocal fold closure to vocal fold spasticity, increased lung resistance)
- During surgery with general anesthesia and increased intra-abdominal pressures, danger of aspiration with possibly following aspiration pneumonia (pneumonia)
- Death
Thrombosis
A thrombosis is the clotting of blood (formation of a clot) in the blood vessel system, which leads to a blood clot (thrombus) with a blockage of the blood vessel. This disrupts the blood circulation and results in blood congestion before the occlusion. Thrombosis comes from the Greek word “thrombosis”, which means “clotting”.
Pulmonary Embolism
A pulmonary embolism is caused by a blood clot (thrombosis) that has formed and is blocking a pulmonary artery. As a result, the part of the lung behind the embolus (clogged plug) is no longer supplied with blood. As a result, the remaining blood vessels (arteries) have to compensate for the blood flow in the blocked vessel. As a result, the blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation increases. If the blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation is increased over a longer period of time, there is a risk of cardiac overload with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia.
All articles in this series: