There are various serious health conditions when the doctor decides to perform surgery. These surgical procedures are planned thoroughly always but despite that, they can lead to certain unintended complications. During surgery, the doctor will cut through your skin and then operate inside, and just like your body reacts during an accident, it will also react the same towards the surgical procedure. In most cases, the doctor informs you about the most common complications that you can expect. This is why before undergoing general surgery in Siliguri, always consider communicating with the surgeon about the complications.
You must note that doctors always take the necessary measures before, during, and after the surgery to reduce the risk of surgical complications. In some cases, despite all the precautions certain complications occur frequently which can deteriorate the benefits of the surgery and impact your overall quality of life. After surgery, it is vital for you to identify the early signs of post-operative complications so that the risk of major health issues can be avoided.
Types Of Surgical Complications You Must Know About
Surgical complications do not always start immediately after the surgery as they can also emerge after years. This is why it is important for you to understand the most common types of surgical complications so that you can detect their warning signs at an early stage.
1. Immediate complications
The immediate complications of surgery usually develop within 3-5 days of the surgery. The most common immediate issue developed by patients is bleeding which can happen internally or from the incisional areas. Along with this, there also remains a high chance of infections or septicemia after the surgery. The other immediate complications include shock, heart problems, lung collapse, acute kidney injury, and pulmonary embolism. The location of the surgery is a major factor that determines the signs of the complications.
2. Early complications
After a few weeks of the surgery, your surgical areas will heal and you will start feeling better. However, this doesn’t eliminate the risk of developing surgical complications as there are certain early problems that tend to develop after 3-4 weeks of the surgery. Some early complications that you must be aware of are confusion, severe pain, bruising, wound breakdown, and high temperature. In most cases, patients also experience bowel problems that include constipation. Other serious complications during this stage are acute urinary retention, deep vein thrombosis, and infections such as urinary tract infections and pneumonia.
3. Late complications
There are also late surgical complications which often start showcasing after a year of the surgical procedure. The most common risk that you have during this phase is the disease recurrence where you can suffer from the same condition which was initially treated by the surgery. Other than this, patients also have a higher likelihood of developing incisional hernia, thickening of scar, and persistent sinus. If the surgery was done in the abdomen then the associated scarring can also cause bowel blockage. It is important to contact the best general surgeon in Siliguri if these complications persist.
Identifying General Symptoms Of Surgical Complications
- Bleeding and wound complications
One of the most common surgical complications after a major operation is bleeding and other wound issues. Herein, you can experience either light or heavy bleeding which can indicate blood clotting or the stitches around the surgical site have burst. These issues are more likely when there is a major operation causing damage to the large blood vessels. Additionally, there can also be various other wound complications during this stage which include bruising, hematoma formation, and wound infection. If your wound is healing very slowly then it can also indicate an underlying surgical complication.
- Pain
It is quite natural for you to experience pain after a general surgery in Siliguri. However, there are now various advanced pain-blocking techniques and painkillers that can effectively control your surgery-associated pain. In most cases, pain is considered a side effect of the surgery and not a complication. Herein, there can be certain cases of severe pain, especially after abdominal and chest surgery which can indicate a serious complication. To reduce pain, the doctor might advise you to take certain medications after the surgery.
- Confusion
Another common complication that is mainly experienced by elderly patients is confusion. This basically happens due to the administered medications and anesthesia used during surgery. However, if you have been experiencing confusion then it is pivotal to contact your surgeon urgently as it can also be caused due to various other complications. Some severe surgical complications causing confusion are infection, pain, fluid balance issues, and constipation. Sometimes sleeping disturbances after the surgery can also cause this post-operative problem.
- Heart problems
In most cases, heart problems associated with the surgery start showcasing within 48 hours. However, there are times when these complications can be detected and may emerge after a few days of the surgery. Some of the common heart issues after surgery that can become quite deadly for you are heart failure, heart attacks, abnormal heart rhythms, and angina. The chances of developing these heart complications are higher if you are already suffering from any cardiovascular diseases.
- Breathing complications
One of the most common breathing issues that one can experience after a surgical procedure is lung atelectasis. This mainly happens when a part of your lungs collapses or blocks while leaving you with no air for inhalation. Additionally, if you experience high temperature, cough, and abdominal pain following surgery then it can indicate a lung infection such as pneumonia. The other breathing or lung-related complications that may happen after surgery are aspiration pneumonitis, deep vein thrombosis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
- Bowel-related problems
The anaesthetic medications used during surgery tend to put your digestive system to sleep. In some cases, these medications can trigger constipation and can lead to distressing bowel complications. If you haven’t had any bowel movements even after 48 hours of the surgery then it is time for you to contact the surgeon immediately as this condition can sometimes be caused by paralytic ileus as well. Other than this, some patients may also suffer from bowel leakage and bowel obstruction after surgery causing some painful symptoms.
- Kidney conditions
If you have undergone a pelvis and abdominal surgery then it is also common for you to suffer from certain kidney complications. One of the most common issues during this stage can be urinary retention where you will be unable to pass urine completely. Other than this, you can also suffer from a urinary tract infection or acute kidney injury due to the operation. Herein, not only the surgical procedure but your kidneys can also get injured due to the administered painkillers and antibiotics.
- Reaction to anesthesia
Another rare but life-threatening surgical complication includes a reaction towards the anesthetic medications. Initially, the symptoms of this condition can be mild but it can also become a major condition. Some of the common complaints that patients have if they are allergic to the anesthetic medications are itching, sore throat, confusion, and chills. It is essential for you to communicate with the doctor about your allergies so that the reaction toward anesthesia can be avoided.
- Shock
Some patients may also suffer from shock after the surgery which is caused due to major drop in blood pressure. This can further lead to slowed blood flow in the body which is most commonly caused due to infection, blood loss, and metabolic problems. If the doctor identifies any sign of shock after surgery extra oxygen, IV fluids, and breathing assistance can be provided to control the symptoms.
Effective Ways To Prevent Surgical Complications
It can become quite scary for you to undergo the surgery after hearing about all these post-operative complications. However, there is nothing to worry about as advanced and modern surgical approaches are now working wonders in reducing the likelihood of surgical complications. Additionally, there are also various lifestyle modifications that one follow to decrease the chances of such complications. Remember that being fitter before the surgery can have a significant benefit of decreasing the chances of health complications. Some such measures that you can adopt are-
- Maintain proper body mass index
- Follow a healthy and balanced diet to avoid any nutritional deficiencies during the surgery
- Avoid smoking
- Follow the doctor’s instructions during surgery planning regarding your last drink and food before the surgery
- Indulge in regular exercise to stay fit and control weight
- Stop any medications that have been advised by the surgeon
- Adhere to the instructions mentioned by the doctor and prepare for the surgery effectively
- Don’t miss any pre-operative routine check-ups so that all your vitals can be monitored
- Ensure early mobilization after surgery and avoid being bed-ridden
You should never ignore these health complications after undergoing general surgery in Siliguri as it can increase your likelihood of experiencing some of the life-threatening medical conditions. Remember that if the post-operative complications are diagnosed at the right time then timely intervention can be provided for effective management. This is the main reason why doctors keep you on monitoring for a few hours after the surgery so that any possible complications can be avoided and a speedy recovery can be assured.
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