Patients who undergo surgery may develop sepsis as a complication of the procedure. Sepsis represents one of the most catastrophic complications of surgery, as it can become fatal if left untreated. In some cases, a patient may develop sepsis due to negligent actions by a surgeon or the patient’s medical team, such as when doctors or nurses fail to keep the surgical site clean or fail to recognize the signs of an infection or complication.
When medical providers’ negligence allows a patient to develop sepsis, the patient may have a medical malpractice claim to recover compensation for additional medical care, lost wages, lost future earning capacity caused by disabilities, and pain and suffering. An experienced attorney can help you determine if you have a sepsis malpractice claim by obtaining evidence showing that your condition occurred due to your healthcare provider’s negligence.
What Doctors Should Watch Out for After Surgery That May Indicate Sepsis
Patients may develop sepsis when they have an infection their immune system cannot fight. A surgical site may become infected with bacteria, which can spread throughout the body. In response to the infection, a person’s immune system releases white blood cells and other chemicals into the bloodstream to fight the infection. Sepsis can occur when the immune system cannot fight the infection and causes inflammation throughout the body.
Surgery can place additional stress on a person’s immune system. Other risk factors for sepsis include compromised immune systems and chronic health conditions like diabetes. Sepsis can become life-threatening if left untreated. As a result, doctors and nurses should watch out for sepsis symptoms, which may include:
- Visible infections, including redness, swelling, pus, or necrotic tissue
- Disorientation or confusion
- High fever
- Chills
- Low blood pressure
- Severe fatigue
- Abnormal urine stream or inability to urinate
- Heart palpitations
- Cool, pale, or clammy skin
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
When left untreated, sepsis can lead to septic shock, in which a person’s blood pressure crashes and their vital organs begin shutting down.
When Medical Malpractice Leads to Sepsis
A patient who experiences sepsis after surgery may have a medical malpractice claim when their doctor and medical team make mistakes such as:
- Failing to recognize the signs of infection
- Failing to diagnose sepsis
- Delaying treatment of infection or sepsis
- Not performing diagnostic testing
- Prescribing the wrong antibiotics or other medication
- Failing to clean IV lines
- Failing to provide sufficient fluids
- Failing to keep the surgical site clean
- Failing to obtain informed consent from the patient for the procedure
Contact Our Experienced Sepsis Malpractice Lawyers for a Free Case Review
When you’ve experienced sepsis as a complication of surgery, you may have a medical malpractice claim against your surgeon. Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a sepsis malpractice attorney to discuss your legal options for seeking financial recovery from your negligent or reckless surgical team. We’ve recovered more than $2.5 billion to date for our clients, including more than 350 cases exceeding $1 million. We are committed to fighting aggressively for the compensation and justice our clients deserve.
