Sometimes, it’s just not possible for us to fight off illnesses on our own. There are also occasions when an accident occurs and medical intervention is needed to repair the injuries. In these scenarios, it is common to rely on surgical treatment.
Surgery has advanced in recent years and it continues to do so, but there are still no risk-free surgeries. One of the major risks of having surgery is developing an infection. How does this happen and what are the risks?
Infected organs
Infections that occur in or around the organs can be very dangerous. The organ may not have been the site of the surgery, but the wound was close to this area and an infection has spread there. When picked up quickly, these infections can usually be treated effectively. However, if the infection goes unnoticed, the patient can be placed in serious danger.
Superficial infections
Superficial infections occur on the external part of the surgical wound. These can be extremely painful. Usually, such ailments can be treated with medicine but they can become dangerous if allowed to spread to other parts of the body.
Deep incisional infections
Deep incisional infections affect the muscles and soft tissues underneath the surgical wound. Sometimes, these infections can be more difficult to detect, so medical staff really need to be on their toes and regularly check the condition of the patient post-surgery.
Was your infection caused by negligence?
If a medical facility has not used sterile equipment or has failed in other aspects of hygiene, then this may amount to negligence. If you’ve suffered injuries as a result of this type of conduct, then it’s in your best interests to seek some legal guidance on how to go about obtaining financial compensation.