Surgery is not without risks, but preventable errors should never be among them. When healthcare professionals fail to meet the accepted standard of care in Missouri operating rooms, patients and their families can experience devastating consequences. Knowing common types of surgical mistakes can help you recognize when medical negligence has occurred and determine if legal action may be appropriate.
The experienced Missouri surgical error lawyers at Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet in Kansas City work diligently to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable for their actions by representing people and families who have suffered harm due to surgical errors. Below, our team discusses seven types of surgical mistakes to provide you with insights into common operating room negligence and surgical error claims.
Wrong Site Surgical Mistakes
A wrong-site surgical mistake occurs when a procedure is performed on the incorrect side of the body, such as operating on the left knee instead of the right knee or removing a healthy organ instead of the diseased one. The procedure involves the correct patient, but surgery is performed on the wrong anatomical side or location.
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Examples of wrong-site surgical errors include things like performing cardiac surgery on the wrong side of the heart or orthopedic procedures on a healthy limb instead of the injured one.
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Mistakes like these often stem from inadequate preoperative verification, poor surgical site marking, or failure to confirm the correct anatomical location during timeout procedures.
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The Joint Commission's Universal Protocol specifically requires healthcare facilities to mark surgical sites with indelible markers and conduct verification procedures before beginning operations. Surgeons should personally mark the intended surgical site while the patient is awake and oriented whenever possible to prevent these devastating errors.
Wrong-site surgery leaves patients with unnecessary procedures on healthy tissues while their actual medical conditions remain untreated. Missouri medical malpractice law holds healthcare providers responsible for following established safety standards, and wrong-site surgery typically constitutes clear evidence of negligence.
Wrong-Procedure Surgical Mistakes
Wrong-procedure errors occur when surgeons perform entirely different operations than what was planned and consented to by the patient. Unlike wrong-site surgery on the correct patient, these errors involve completely different surgical interventions that may be unnecessary or inappropriate for the patient's condition.
Examples of this kind of operating room negligence include performing a gallbladder removal when the patient was scheduled for hernia repair, conducting cardiac bypass surgery instead of valve replacement, or performing a hysterectomy when the patient consented only to fibroid removal.
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Miscommunication between surgical team members, inadequate preoperative planning, or failure to review patient records properly can result in wrong-procedure errors.
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Informed consent becomes a critical legal issue in wrong-procedure cases. Patients have the right to understand and agree to specific surgical interventions before procedures begin.
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When surgeons perform different operations without proper consent, they violate both medical and legal standards governing patient autonomy.
The medical consequences of wrong-procedure errors can be severe and long-lasting. Patients may suffer complications from unnecessary surgeries while still requiring treatment for their original conditions. Recovery times extend significantly, and patients may face increased risks from multiple surgical interventions.
Wrong-Patient Surgery
Wrong-patient surgical mistakes happen when a procedure intended for one patient is performed on an entirely different person. This type of mistake typically results from patient identification failures, scheduling errors, or inadequate verification procedures in busy hospital environments.
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Electronic health record systems and patient identification bands are designed to prevent wrong-patient surgeries.
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However, human error or negligence, such as staff members failing to scan patient identification bands or assuming patient identity without proper verification procedures, can override these safety measures.
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Operating room teams must verify patient identity using at least two unique identifiers before beginning any procedure. This includes checking patient names, dates of birth, medical record numbers, and confirming the planned procedure with conscious patients whenever possible.
The consequences of wrong-patient surgery extend beyond the immediate physical harm. Patients receive unnecessary procedures they never consented to, while their actual medical conditions go untreated. Additionally, the intended surgical patient may experience delayed treatment, potentially worsening their medical condition and prognosis.
Retained Surgical Objects
Retained surgical objects can create serious post-surgery medical emergencies that pose serious risks to patients and often require additional operations to correct. Surgical sponges, instruments, clamps, and other medical devices accidentally left inside patients can cause infections, organ perforation, chronic pain, and life-threatening complications.
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Sponges represent the most commonly retained objects due to their small size and similarity to body tissues when soaked with blood.
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Larger instruments like forceps, scissors, or guidewires have also been discovered weeks or months after surgery when patients develop unexplained symptoms.
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Prevention requires systematic counting procedures before, during, and after surgery. Surgical teams must account for every item brought into the operating room, and many facilities now use radiofrequency identification technology to track surgical materials.
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When appropriate counting protocols fail or are ignored, patients face unnecessary risks.
The medical consequences of retained objects often exceed the original surgical risks, with patients potentially developing sepsis, requiring emergency surgery, experiencing a prolonged recovery period, or even suffering permanent organ damage.
Anesthesia Errors During Surgery
Anesthesia errors result from things like an anesthesiologist failing to properly monitor a patient, miscalculating dosages, or ignoring warning signs of adverse reactions during a surgical procedure.
Medication Dosing Errors
Medication dosing errors can result in a patient may lead to the individual receiving too much anesthesia, causing respiratory depression or cardiac complications, or too little, resulting in awareness during surgery. Anesthesiologists must carefully calculate appropriate dosages based on patient weight, medical history, and the planned procedure duration.
Equipment Malfunctions
Equipment malfunctions and monitoring failures also contribute to anesthesia-related injuries. Ventilators, oxygen delivery systems, and patient monitoring devices must function properly throughout surgical procedures. Serious complications can develop when an anesthesiologist fails to recognize equipment problems or respond appropriately to changing patient conditions.
Pre-Operative Evaluation Errors
Pre-operative evaluation errors compound anesthesia risks when physicians fail to identify patient allergies, medication interactions, or underlying medical conditions that affect anesthesia tolerance. Thorough patient assessment and communication between surgical team members help prevent many anesthesia complications. Anesthesia errors can lead to complications that can result in brain damage, cardiac arrest, or death.
Surgical Technique Errors
Improper surgical technique encompasses a wide range of errors that occur when surgeons deviate from accepted medical standards during procedures. Examples include cutting the wrong tissues, damaging nearby organs, creating inadequate repairs, or failing to achieve the intended surgical goals.
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage frequently results from surgical technique errors, such as when a surgeon accidentally cuts, stretches, or compresses nerve structures during a procedure. Common examples include facial nerve damage during ear surgery or spinal nerve injury during back operations. Patients who experience nerve damage may suffer from permanent numbness, weakness, or chronic pain in affected areas.
Vascular Injuries
Surgical technique errors can also lead to vascular injuries. For example, a surgeon may accidentally damage blood vessels, leading to excessive bleeding, blood clots, or inadequate blood supply to vital organs. Complications from vascular injuries often require emergency intervention and can result in permanent disability or death if not promptly addressed.
Inadequate Closure of a Surgical Site
Inadequate surgical site closure can lead to wound healing complications, infections, and internal bleeding. Surgeons must properly secure all tissue layers and ensure adequate blood supply to healing areas. When closure techniques are inadequate or inappropriate, patients face extended recovery periods and potential complications.
Communication-Related Errors
Communication breakdowns between surgical team members contribute to many preventable errors in Missouri operating rooms. Patient safety is compromised when nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and technicians fail to share critical information effectively.
Handoff Communication Errors
Handoff communication errors occur when patient care transfers between different providers or shifts. Important medical history, current medications, allergies, or procedure-specific concerns may not be properly communicated, leading to inappropriate treatment decisions or medication errors.
Equipment and Supply Communication Failures
Equipment and supply communication failures can result in surgical delays, the use of incorrect technology or instruments, or inadequate preparation for procedure complications. Surgical teams must coordinate effectively to ensure proper equipment availability and functionality throughout procedures to prevent medical negligence in the operating room.
Poor Emergency Communication
Emergency communication becomes critical when unexpected complications arise during surgery. Team members must quickly and clearly communicate changing patient conditions, treatment decisions, and resource needs. Poor communication during emergencies can delay appropriate interventions and worsen patient outcomes.
Protecting Your Rights After a Surgical Error
If you suspect you have been affected by a surgical mistake, it’s important to act immediately to protect your health and legal rights. Be sure to seek prompt medical attention for unexpected symptoms or complications, as this may prevent further harm from developing while also creating documentation that may be important to your claim.
Missouri’s statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is strict, so it’s also critical to schedule a consultation with an experienced Missouri surgical error attorney right away. Doing so will help ensure that important evidence, such as detailed medical records and expert testimony, is obtained and preserved, which are important steps in protecting your rights and preparing to seek compensation for the harm you have experienced as a result of a surgical mistake.