The risks of having surgery Everyday, people affront many reasons to have surgery. Some operations can relieve or prevent certain pain; others can reduce a symptom of a problem or improve some body function. Some surgeries are even done to detect a problem, but the truth is every surgery has associated risks that could be even worse than the apparently “resolved problem”. When planning to have surgery, the biggest concern someone should have is the final outcome. Will his or her life be improved by the procedure or do the risks outweigh the rewards? Surgery could be an apparent solution to bring new life, but the truth is no surgery is risk free, so despite a new beginning, surgery could be also the end. In her article Understanding the risks involved when having surgery, Jennifer Whitlock (2014) mentions one of the surgical risks – while uncommon but serious, is the anesthesia complications during surgery. “Most problems associated with anesthesia are related to the process of intubation, or inserting the breathing tube. Aspiration, or breathing food or fluid into the lungs, can be a problem, during surgery” (Whitlock, 2014). This is a possible situation that may occur before having the surgery, and some patients might even experience an increased heart rate or elevated blood pressure during the process, which is very risky for their cardiovascular system. The anesthesia complications may include malignant hyperthermia (MH), “a rare inherited disorder in which a patient
When there is a complication of the regional anesthesia which might include anaphylaxis, overdose, incorrect delivery technique and systemic absorption, the nurse will monitor for systemic toxic reaction which comprises of monitoring the central nervous system (CNS) stimulation along with CNS and cardiac depression. The nurse will also assess the patient for incoherent speech, restlessness, blurred vision, excitement, headache, nausea, vomiting, metallic taste, seizures, tremors, increase blood pressure, respiration and pulse. The patient may become apnea, hypotensive, unconscious, and have a cardiac arrest which may lead to death if the toxic reaction is not treated. Nursing intervention for the complication of regional anesthesia include establishing an open airway, administering oxygen, and notifying the surgeon. Treatment usually comprise of a fast acting barbiturate with epinephrine being administered for cardiac arrest. Edema and inflammation is an early sign of local complication with abscess formation, tissue necrosis and /or gangrene occurring later (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013). Since general anesthesia was administer in addition to the regional anesthesia, the nurse and anesthesiologist will have to also monitor for complication of general anesthesia which range from a minor sore throat to death. Certain drugs used for general anesthesia may cause an acute, life threatening complication know as malignant hyperthermia (MH). The exposure of these agent to the skeletal muscle causes an increases in serum calcium and potassium level, metabolic rate leading to increased body temperature, acidosis and cardiac dysrhythmias. MH might occur immediately after the administration of the anesthesia, or several hours into the
ii. Hypothermia, defined as a core body temperature less than 36C, is a relatively common occurrence in the unwarmed surgical patient. A mild degree of perioperative hypothermia can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. (Hart et al., 2011)
This Anaesthetic case study would describes and discussed the scenario of a patient through the anaesthetic role of their surgical procedure. It will include and discuss the anaesthetic safety procedures equipment and drug interventions used to ensure this particular patients maximum safety and comfort before and during the procedure. The case study will include pre and peri-operative assessment in order to describe the involvement contribution of various specialties in the holistic care of the critical care patient. This assignment will focus only on the anaesthetics side of the procedure but will also highlight the importance of the triad of anaesthesia and discuss the administration, maintenance and reversal of
The patient may have a hard time breathing because she is in pain after having surgery. Since they patient doesn’t want to breath due to the pain it can cause atelectasis and later sepsis if not treated in time. It would be important to teach the patient about splinting and to use an incentive spirometry in order to help her be able to breath. Another risk factor for the patient not being able to oxygenate would be hypovolemia since there is less blood volume which can also lead to less oxygen being able to travel in the blood or able to perfuse throughout the body.
Dr. Michael Law, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, described relief from plastic surgery to be “absolutely life-changing.” In fact, a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Professor Laurence Kirwan, observed “24 out of 25 patients had improvements in chronic back-pain” after a breast reduction. Dr. Law also claimed that “obstructive breathing symptoms arising from the nasal airway...can be corrected…[by] rhinoplasty surgery.” He added that “improve[ments] [in] a patient’s breathing...enhance sleep,” therefore, plastic surgeons also correct other problems that arise from a lack of sleep. Furthermore, plastic surgeons improve physical health by removing excess skin caused by a drastic weight loss. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, plastic surgeons “help to improve or resolve more than 40 obesity-related diseases and conditions, including type 2 diabetes [and] heart disease…[and] improve life expectancy by 89%.” By granting patients healthier and more comfortable lifestyles, plastic surgeons perfectly fit Zimbardo’s definition of heroes with their concern and service to others in
The elderly population and woman are mostly at risk of having operation. Most patients who undergo
Malignant hypothermia is a disease, caused by a bad reaction of anesthetics. This disease causes an immensely rapid temperature rise and extreme muscle contractions. MH (malignant hypothermia) is passed down through families and inherited by one parent carrying it giving it to the child. “Malignant hyperthermia occurs in 1 in 5,000 to 50,000 instances in which people are given anesthetic gases” (NIH, 2007). Most people aren’t aware that they are prone to this disease/reaction because they have never been under anesthesia drugs, or have never received surgery.
Per the study, the “findings have a few important implications. A substantial minority of patients aged 80 and older who have major noncardiac surgery die or suffer a postoperative complication, but the majority have good outcomes, and for many operations, mortality rates were low (>2%).” The
J Mann, 160 post-operative respiratory complications were found in 144 patients. All the patients received gas, oxygen and anaesthetic (Mann, 1949) It also suggests respiratory problems rise abruptly in males over the age of 40. Mr Street is 69 years old. Patients are at risk of the following post-surgery loss of lung volume, CR conditioning, pain on deep breathing, pain on coughing, infection which can also be related to stress and weight loss, DVT, atelectasis, low oxygen saturation, reduced thoracic expansion, low mood, loss of mobility due to obesity which can result in reduced joint range and muscle strength, anxiety (secondary to his diagnosis of a potentially life limiting
Anesthetics are considered an essential element of modern surgical medicine. There are physical and psychological risks associated with the use of anesthesia, however these risks tend to be perceived as ethically acceptable. Over the past 20 years, the ability to perform longer, more complicated surgical procedures has been facilitated by the development of powerful and sophisticated drugs to achieve the desired affects of patient stability. The impact of anesthesia on brain function is contested, specifically its potential impact on long-term memory and a possible association with the onset of dementia. This is especially pertinent to several groups including the very young, the very old and those with pre-existing health issues. This essay will explore the history of anesthetics, and evaluate if the modern risks outweigh the long-standing benefits of using advanced anesthetics in surgery. Furthermore, this essay will examine the role of the media in public awareness of these risks.
The art of surgery has a long, rich history which to some scholars, predates the middles ages when most surgical processes or treatments resulted in grave infection or death. As the development of technology has become more prevalent across western societies, is is clear that the past hundred years or so proved to be time when surgery progressed at an alarming rate, thus further highlighting the insurmountable amount of medical advancement in the industry.
As with any invasive surgical procedure, there is a certain amount of associated risk and complication. Some important complications surrounding any operative procedures utilizing general anesthesia include bleeding, respiratory decompensation, infection, and relapse. Outcome and prognosis of Lefort procedures depend on many factors before, during, and after surgery. Major anatomical complications reported with Lefort I osteotomy include nasal septum deviation, ophthalmic and lacrimal duct injury, malocclusion or mal-union of the maxilla, and injury to stenson’s duct. A reciprocating saw is generally utilized to perform the osteotomy with sufficient cooling methods to reduce heat damage to the underlying bone. Overheating puts bony structures at risk of osteonecrosis. Separation of the nasal septum is crucial and care should be taken to avoid the nasotracheal tube on the side of nasal intubation. Sectioning the tube would compromise the patient’s airway and cause significant risk to the procedure. Separation of the pterygoid plate from the maxillary tuberosity is another technique sensitive step during final completion of the osteotomy in the region of the infratemporal fossa (Patel).
In recent years plastic surgery is something that has become a very popular trend, and also where many young people are even lining up for it. Plastic surgery is to reconstruct or repair parts of the body, especially by the transfer of tissue it can be used for treatment of injury or cosmetic reasons. It enhances one’s physical appearance, allowing him or her to achieve a look he or she desires. For example, a women’s buttocks can be enlarged or reduced, or a nose can be straightened or lifted. Many people find themselves changing their bodies and wondering if perfecting their appearance would make life a bit more perfect. Plastic surgery can enhance someone’s level of confidence and boost their self-esteem, but it is something that can have very serious consequences people need to be aware of.
Plastic surgery is not the best choice for anybody because you never know what your final outcome is which Allison A. stated in 2008. Doctors cannot guarantee you will come out successfully from the surgery room. She also said that it is like a game where you do not know if you win at the end of the play. People turn to cosmetic products for better appearances but when it’s not enough or not satisfying to them, they turn to plastic surgery. They never think about the consequences of what they want to look like or the dangers and risks that are involved. Veronica S. (2007) believes that cosmetic surgery is more harmful than it is beneficial. Unnecessary surgery seems to put women in danger for the sake of Hollywood beauty. We all handle healing differently. Some may heal well and some won’t. Hykra (2005) states that if you have pre-existing health conditions cosmetic surgery can be really dangerous. He also reports that people with heart condition, diabetes, or if you are a smoker, or have allergies you may experience complications that others may not.
MedicineNet analyzes mental health risks as a result of unrealistic expectations of surgery. When a person engages in plastic surgery on the wrong grounds, they tend to be unsatisfied with their results. This causes stress and sometimes depression on the patient, which can also affect their physical health, due to delayed and/or prolonged healing time. It is critical for plastic surgeons to be specifically trained in psycho-therapy. During an initial consultation, the doctor must first determine whether the patient is emotionally stable. They look for things such as age, development, mental illness, whether the patient is realistic towards the outcome, whether the patient has recently undergone any sort of traumatic event, or any other factor capable affecting their mental health. Once this is assessed and the patient is cleared for surgery a whole new array of problems arise.