The Danger Does Not End After An Operation Concludes

After surgery, health care professionals should continue monitoring patients. A failure to monitor could endanger the patient, causing injury or wrongful death. When the patient is in recovery (post-anesthesia care unit — PACU), the staff needs to be attentive to any signs of surgery complication or infection.

The medical malpractice attorneys at The Law Offices of Salazar, Sullivan & Jasionowski in Albuquerque know how to review medical records and how to assess what happened to cause post-operative complications.

A Lack Of Attentive Post-Operative Care Can Cause Serious Harm

Patients in the recovery unit are in a vulnerable position. They are groggy from anesthesia, and they cannot assess their own conditions. They are dependent on the PACU staff for careful monitoring.

In laparoscopic abdominal surgery, for example, the surgeon is operating through a small incision using a camera. A surgical error could perforate the bowel without the surgeon noticing. Careful PACU monitoring may notice the signs of internal bleeding and the start of an infection (peritonitis). Early detection is important.

In the PACU and later, careful monitoring and early intervention can lessen the seriousness of post-operative complications. Negligence, on the other hand, can cause serious post-operative complications that threaten the patient’s health and life.

Contact An Attorney Who Understands Medical Malpractice Law

Medical mistakes are complex. At The Law Offices of Salazar, Sullivan & Jasionowski, our lawyers have in-depth experience investigating and litigating medical negligence. Contact our law firm today to learn more about how we can help you.