Many things can go wrong during a surgery, but the majority of patients have an operation that is considered successful and they begin healing normally. Incredibly, about 6,000 patients face severe post-surgery complications - including internal infection and wrongful...
Surgical Errors
Study: Anesthesia Drug Ketamine Harms Children’s Brain Activity
Ketamine is a commonly used anesthetic in pediatric operations, but it may be doing serious damage to young patients. According to a study published in Science Daily, children under age 3 who had lengthy exposure to ketamine during surgery displayed memory problems,...
Study: 1 In 4 Surgery Errors Attributed To Equipment, Technology
About 24 percent of all surgical mistakes are caused by technology problems or equipment failure, according to research recently published in BMJ Quality and Safety. The study is alarming, as the use of complex technology in the operating room has risen dramatically....
Study: Procedure For Robotic Surgery Needs Safety Upgrade
Robotic surgical systems have recently come under scrutiny after many patients have suffered poor outcomes. Lawsuits allege that surgeons, hospitals and robotic device manufacturers, such as Intuitive Surgical, Inc., all bear blame for botched procedures. Fortunately,...
JAMA Study: Surgery Errors Boost Hospital Profits
A comprehensive medical study found that U.S. hospitals increase their profit margins when patients suffer surgery errors or complications. The research examined the cases of nearly 35,000 surgery patients and found that those with private insurance who suffered...
Sales Of Da Vinci Surgical System Often Put Patients At Risk
If you have a scheduled surgery you may want to call your doctor to make sure you aren't going to be his or her "guinea pig" for learning a new, robotic surgical system. It's happened to thousands of patients, who only become aware of it after they are seriously...
Study: Post-Surgical Mistakes Alarmingly Common
A recent study revealed that post-operative mistakes are disturbingly common. U.K. researchers examined 659 days of post-surgical care and found 256 mistakes. Even more troubling, these errors caused harm to the patient most of the time (51 percent). The...
Proposed Kidney Transplant Rules Aim To Eliminate Organ Waste
More than 90,000 Americans are on the kidney transplant waiting list. In 2011, more than 4,700 patients on this list died because they didn't receive a donor kidney. The statistics paint a clear picture: Donor kidneys are desperately needed to save lives. This is why...
4,000 Objects Left In Patients After Surgery Each Year In U.S.
Every surgical operation comes with risks, but most hospitals work hard to minimize complications within their control. However, one mistake that can easily be eliminated continues to victimize thousands of U.S. patients. Items such as sponges, gauze or surgical...
Surgical Clips Misused In Kidney Transplants With Fatal Results
The world's top doctors will tell you that a successful surgery needs more than just steady hands and experience. Detailed preparation is the foundation of any operation, yet kidney donor recipients are frequently becoming the victims of a deadly oversight by surgical...