It is very important that during any operative procedure, the surgeon makes certain that proper measures are taken to prevent postoperative bleeding.
The Chicago medical malpractice attorneys of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC understand that not all surgical errors are apparent at the time of a procedure, but it is the responsibility of the attending surgeon and hospital staff to monitor postoperative patients closely for signs of life-threatening hemorrhaging.
If you suffered complications due to bleeding following a surgical experience or your loved one died due to hemorrhaging, you may be entitled to compensation for the recovery of medical costs, the value of your pain and suffering, and additional expenses in a post-operative hemorrhage lawsuit.
Forms and Frequency of Postoperative Hemorrhaging
It is quite normal to anticipate the possibility of bleeding after a patient has been cut open during a surgical procedure and patients are normally monitored to ensure that measures taken to stop internal bleeding during the procedure were successful.
Roughly 2.24 patients out of 1,000 will experience some form of postoperative bleeding and the injuries that result can vary from minor discomfort to life-threatening complications.
Here are some of the forms and causes of bleeding following an operative procedure.
- Pulled stitch or staple— the stitches or staples used to close incisions may be pulled, causing the wound to open and bleed.
- Organ perforation— it is not uncommon at all for a surgeon to make an accidental cut due to the close proximity of the internal organs to one another. Most of these accidents are noticed and the surgeon repairs the wound before the patient is closed up. However, there are some cases where the error is never noticed, resulting in internal bleeding that continues long after the procedure.
- Secondary hemorrhaging— when the patient shows no signs of bleeding for hours after surgery but begins to bleed later, it is referred to as secondary hemorrhaging. The bleeding could be the result of the inability of the patient’s blood to clot or the use of certain medications and supplements.
These are just several of the causes of bleeding following surgery and our Illinois medical negligence lawyers would be happy to investigate whether the cause of your bleeding was due to the failure of your surgeon or supporting staff to take preventative or proactive measures to ensure your safety.
Symptoms of Postoperative Bleeding
Patients should never be discharged following any surgical procedure until the hospital is certain they have not exhibited any symptoms of bleeding.
These symptoms include restlessness, extreme thirst, increased heart rate, pale or clammy skin, low blood pressure, weakness, seeing spots or experiencing tinnitus, infrequent urination, and blood-soaked dressings. If a patient is at risk of bleeding, the doctor can order blood tests, an endoscopy, or angiography to detect bleeding.
In some cases, additional surgery may be required to locate the source of the bleeding and repair it.
Infections are another concern for patients experiencing postoperative bleeding because bacteria are able to enter the wound and begin to spread throughout the body. If the infection reaches the blood, it can result in septic shock.
Blood loss and infection are both serious conditions that may cause death if not detected quickly. When our Illinois medical negligence attorneys investigate these types of cases, we look for signs that the doctor or nursing staff failed to monitor the patient for clear and obvious signs of bleeding, the failure to order tests in time, or the failure to diagnose the bleeding.
Learn More about Your Legal Options
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is an award-winning personal injury law firm with offices throughout Chicago and Illinois. We’ve helped thousands of clients recover the compensation they were entitled to when their doctors failed to meet their duty of care.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys to learn more about your legal options and how we can help ensure the success of your case. If we cannot secure compensation on your behalf, our services will be free.
