Surgical Complications
Rajan Thakkar
Surgical Complications
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wound
Thermal Regulation
Postoperative Fever
Pulmonary
Cardiac
Renal
Gastrointestinal
Metabolic
Neurological
Surgical Complications
•
•
•
•
•
Primary disease
Operation
Unrelated factors
Complications leading to other complications
Prevention
Wound Complications
•
•
•
•
•
Dehiscence
Seroma
Hematoma
Infection
Incisional Hernia
Wound Dehiscence
•
•
•
•
•
•
Separation of facial layers
Serosanguinous drainage
Technical Complication
Risk Factors
Mortality approaches 30%
Evisceration
Evisceration
Incisional Hernia
Seroma
• Collection of liquefied fat, serum and lymphatic
fluid under the incision
• Benign
• No erythema or tenderness
• Mastectomy, axillary and groin dissections
• Treatment
Hematoma
• Abnormal collection of blood
– Discoloration of the wound edges (purple/blue)
– Blood leaks through skin sutures
• Imperfect hemostasis
• Potential for secondary infection
• Neck hematomas can be dangerous
Wound Infection
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Major problem
Superficial
Deep
Organ space
Most commonly occur 4-6 days post-op
Erythema, tender, edema
2.5% of abdominal incisions
Staphylococcus aureus
Wound Infection
• Necrotizing fasciitis
– Bacterial infection of underlying fascia
– Classically Streptococcus, most often polymicrobial with anaerobes/GNR
– Surgical debridement and IV antibiotics
• Clostridial Myosistis
– Clostridial muscle infection (myonecrosis and gas gangrene)
– Clostridium perfringens
– Surgical debridement and IV antibiotics
Necrotizing fasciitis
Necrotizing fasciitis
Necrotizing Fasciitis
Complications of Thermal Regulation
• Hypothermia
• Malignant Hyperthermia
Hypothermia
•
•
•
•
Drop in body temperature of 2 degrees C
Causes
Body’s Response
Temperature below 35 C
– Coagulopathic
– Platelet dysfunction
•
•
•
•
Mild - 32 – 35C = 90-95F
Mod – 28 – 32C = 82–90F
Severe – 25 – 28C = 77-82F
Extreme
Malignant Hyperthermia
•
•
•
•
•
Rare; autosomal dominant
Fever, tachycardia, rigidity, cyanosis
First sign is increased end tidal CO2
Often within 30 minutes
Treatment: Dantrolene, correct electrolytes,
cooling blanket
Postoperative Fever
•
The Six W’s
–
–
–
–
–
–
•
Wind: pneumonia
Wound: infections
Water: UTI
Walking: DVT (possible PE)
Waste: abscess
Wonder Drug: medication
Noninfectious
– Within the first 48-72 hours
•
Infectious
– Fevers POD 3-8
– Standard work up includes
•
•
•
•
•
Blood cultures
UA and Urine Cultures
CXR
Sputum cultures
Tylenol/Motrin
Pulmonary Complications
• Atelectasis
– Peripheral alveolar collapse due to shallow tidal breaths
– Most common cause of fever within 48 hours of surgery
– Incentive spirometry
• Aspiration Pneumonitis
– Reduced by pre-op fasting, protonix, cricoid pressure
• Nosocomial Pneumonia
• Pulmonary edema
– CHF
– ARDS
• Pulmonary embolus
– 500,000 per year
– 1 in 5 are fatal
– Prevention
Pulmonary Embolus
ARDS
Cardiac complications
• Hypertension
• Ischemia/Infarction
– Leading cause of death in any surgical patient
– Key to treatment: prevention
– MONA
• Arrhythmias
– >30 seconds of abnormal cardiac activity
– Key to treatment is to correct underlying medical condition
Renal Complications
• Urinary retention
– Inability to evacuate a urine-filled bladder
– Commonly a reversible abnormality
– Perianal and Hernia repairs
• Acute Renal Failure
– Pre-renal
– Intrinsic
– Post-renal
Gastrointestinal Complications
•
•
•
•
•
•
Postoperative ileus
GI Bleeding
Pseudomembranous colitis
Ischemic Colitis
Anastomotic Leak
Enterocutaneous fistula
Postoperative Ileus
• Lack of function without definitive obstruction
• Prolonged by extensive operative
manipulation, SB injury, narcotic use, abscess
and pancreatitis
• Must be distinguished from SBO
• Flat and Upright abdominal film
– Ileus: dilated bowel throughout, air in colon and
rectum
– SBO: air fluid levels, no colonic or rectal air
ILEUS
SBO
Gastrointestinal Complications
• GI Bleeding
– From Any source (get a detailed history)
– Gastric “stress” ulcers (Curling’s Ulcer)
• Uncommon with invention of H2Blockers and PPIs
• Pseudomembranous colitis
– Superinfection with C difficile
– Alteration of intestinal flora by perioperative antibiotics
– Toxic colitis is a surgical emergency (mortality of 20-30%)
• Ischemic Colitis
– Bowel affected helps determine cause
– Surgical devascularization, hypercoagulable states, hypovolemia and emboli
• Anastomotic leak
• Enterocutaneous fistula
– The most complex and challenging surgical complication
C diff colitis
C diff colitis
Anastomotic leak in GBP
Metabolic Complications
• Adrenal Insufficiency
– Uncommon but potentially lethal
– Sudden cardiovascular collapse
• Hypotension, fever, confusion, abdominal pain
– “Stim” test, administration of hydrocortisone
• Baseline serum cortisol, 30 min, 60 min
• Hyper/Hypothyroidism
• SIADH
– Continued ADH secretion despite hyponatremia
– Neurosurgical procedures, trauma stroke, drugs (ACEI, NSAIDs)
Neurologic Complications
•
•
•
•
Beware the drugs you will be prescribing
Delirium, Dementia and Psychosis
Seizure Disorders
Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks