Getting any major procedure done can be kind of terrifying for all sorts of reasons. You might worry about the outcome, the aftereffects, any pain you might experience post-op, and of course, potential risks or complications which could arise during or after the procedure. While there’s usually no need to worry (you’re safe in the hands of your medical professionals), it is good to be aware of potential risks that could arise in common surgical procedures so that you’re mentally prepared when your doctor discusses them with you before the big day.
Infections
Having a big surgical procedure is often going to involve some kind of incision and therefore leave a wound that will need to heal. It’s important to know when and how to effectively clean any post-op wounds to avoid nasty bacteria crawling in where you don’t want them. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to avoid and infections can occur. This is commonly seen in things like hernia surgery complications and other common procedures. Infections could lead to a fever and may need to be treated with antibiotics, so it’s important to be aware of the signs and how to treat the issue.
Haemorrhaging
This refers to a rapid loss of blood that can occur from the surgical site after a procedure and can occur immediately afterwards, or after some time has passed. There could be issues in the clotting of your blood to ease the bleeding and this could lead to shock, which is a severe drop in the patient’s blood pressure. If this occurs, be sure to discuss it with your health practitioners to best determine how to control the bleeding and improve the situation.
Urinary Retention
Either due to the anaesthetic or the nature of the surgery itself, a patient may find difficulty urinating in the early period after their procedure. If left unattended and untreated, this can lead to further complications involving the bladder and kidneys. Treatment should be sought out immediately in order to avoid these complications and relieve any discomfort
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