Postoperative Respiratory Failures

Postoperative respiratory failure is a catastrophic condition when the lungs aren’t able respectively to regulate oxygen flow, and carbon dioxide within and outside of the bloodstream.

Personal injury medical malpractice attorneys regularly represent clients who have sustained injuries by the negligence of physicians to fulfill due diligence subsequent to operative procedures.

All at-risk patients of respiratory failure need to be closely monitored. This is because they can receive treatment the moment they reveal conditional symptoms, and the catastrophic nature of the experienced complications prolongs the more a patient remains untreated and undiagnosed.

Any individual that undergoes a procedure in surgery can be at risk of respiratory failure after surgery. However, there are certain risk factors, which make particular patients more vulnerable than others.

Medical history of the patient, the kind of procedure, and various medical factors must be a consideration by a physician and medical staff before surgery, and during the recovery period, so that any patient at a high risk is closely monitored.

Following an operative procedure, several factors arise most likely in contributing to respiratory failure, such as:

Surgical procedures administered on the head and neck can place a patient at a catastrophic risk, as do coronary artery bypass grafting, and thoracic procedures.

Patients who do not react well to particular anesthetic agents may not be able to breathe because of a failure of the muscles designed for breathing.

Previously, if the patient has had respiratory infections, or presently has asthma, that individual is at a high-risk following surgery of respiratory failure.

A patient may experience challenges, if he or she is obese, in breathing in the duration, or subsequent to the procedure.

Smoking can diminish function of the lungs, and certain conditions like heart disease and emphysema, to place smokers and ex-smokers alike in the high risk group.

Respiratory failure symptoms can be quite apparent, and the negligence of a medical center staff to treat and diagnose respiratory failure postoperatively can be considered a breach of the duty of care.

Respiratory failure symptoms can include levels of low blood oxygen, disorientation, shortness of breath, confusion, bluish colored skin, an increase or decrease in heart rate, or loss of consciousness.

For patients who succumb into a coma, may or may not recover.

Regarding postoperative respiratory failures, once a patient is cleared to exit a medical facility, that individual should be given instructions that are comprehensive in nature regarding actions to prevent complications, necessary follow-up tests and appointments, pain management, and prescribed medicines. Postoperative negligence, notably, can occur even when physicians prescribe, pharmacies provide, or nurses administer incorrect medication.

Many complications can occur because of postoperative negligence.

The purpose of postoperative treatment primarily is to ensure adequate recovery, and prevent complications.

Although postoperative medical negligence and potential complications are highly varied and numerous, several occur with frequency.

You and a member of your family may have the ability to recover damages due to postoperative respiratory failures.

Contact us for a free consultation or call Anzalone Law Firm PLLC, at: 603.548.3797