Operative complication

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.