When someone dies from "complications" following surgery, what does that mean

[raccoon]

in plain English? Medically-trained DU'ers (and others) can you help me here?

[HereSince1628]

1. Possibly many things.

Here is a list of post-operative risks that I was given prior to my 3x by-pass surgery...

Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
Breathing problems
Infection, including in the lungs, urinary tract, and chest
Blood loss
Chest wound infection, which is more likely to happen if you are obese, have diabetes, or have already had this surgery
Heart attack or stroke
Heart rhythm problems
Kidney or lung failure
Low fever and chest pain, together called post-pericardiotomy syndrome, which can last up to 6 months
Memory loss, loss of mental clarity, or "fuzzy thinking"

On edit: I suppose that isn't a comprehensive list, but rather the highest probability risks as it doesn't include things that could be malpractice.

[ryan_cats]

2. According to my wife who knows these things...

According to my wife who knows these things, they don't want to list the exact cause in case. say a nurse, gave them the wrong meds. However, most of the time, it is complications. If you had a heart transplant that went well and then a blood clot killed you, that would be complications.

If, and I hope you aren't, going through this, get your hands on the chart. Technically, it's owned by the hospital but a five minute trip to Kinkos could be a good idea.

[raccoon]

7. No, thanks, I'm not going through this. I was thinking about Neil Armstrong.nt

[BlueToTheBone]

3. although my beloved did not die

he had complications after his knee surgery...what was to be a 3 day stay in hospital turned into a 20 day stay in cardio and icu. one thing after another. Fortunately I was with him and it certainly helped with his immediate needs. When he was by himself in the hospital was when all the bad things happened. I don't know if it was coincidental or if it was because there wasn't enough patient care.

[riverwalker]

4. if it was a bypass

sometimes a complication is a stroke, from post op Afib. Sometimes a bigger clot in the lungs, pulmonary emboli.

[lunatica]

5. It means something that was caused by the original disease or accident

usually an infection, or pneumonia that can take hold when the body is weakened by the original malady.

35 years ago my bother broke his neck which would have left him paralyzed from the break down, and he was expected to live, but he got pneumonia because of the tube in his throat to help him breath. What killed him was the pneumonia.

[demwing]

10. Same with my mother

undergoing chemotherapy treatments for cervical cancer, her body was too weak to fight off a case of pneumonia and it killed her.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. In the case of open heart surgery, here's a real possibility:

When you have open heart surgery, they cool the heart with (overly simplified) a tube of cold water. That tube has to be run close to the phrenic nerve. If that nerve is damaged, it can cause the diaphragm to not work properly. If the diaphragm isn't working, you can't breathe unaided and so they put you on a ventilator. If you can't be weaned off the ventilator you either stay in that state or you die.

The surgery didn't kill you, but when you die months later, it is a result of a condition that came about as a side effect of the surgery.

You die from a complication.

There are thousands of complications. Some from very simple initial events - like getting a tooth filled.

[PCIntern]

14. HEY!

I have enough problems around here!
http://www.google.com/search?q=tooth+abscess&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=sj86UIL6GOaK6QGuz4CICw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=672#biv=i|0;d|Ixqkbkn2EuvdaM:

[HopeHoops]

8. Usually an infection or a fuck-up that can't be operated on again in time.

It can also mean that a clot got loose during the procedure and found its way somewhere unpleasant. It can mean the patient was too weak to survive surgery to begin with. And, it can be that nobody knows.

[Avalux]

9. Surgery has inherent risks because its invasive.

Complication severity can differ depending on the type of procedure....sometimes a post-surgical infection can occur because a wound is created (cutting into the skin) which gives organisms entry. If the patient is not in good health prior to surgery, the body is more succeptible to this and an infection can be life-threatening.

Bleeding, blood clots...these may occur, anticoagulants during and after surgery as a preventative for blood clots, such as in hip replacement surgery.

If you can provide a little more info about the surgical procedure, I can give more details....

[pinto]

11. Not medically trained but anecdotally from some who are:

Post op infection.

Had surgery recently and all the staff, from housekeeping, food service, phlebotomy to RN and MD were very meticulous in hand sanitation. Both before they entered my room and on leaving. I found that reassuring - I had a good sized open, dressed wound, compromised immune system and some weight loss. An infection could have been a serious complication.

I'm sure medically trained members here have more complete, in-depth input.

[aikoaiko]

12. I'll give you an example. My dad has a heart valve and takes blood thinners.

He's had very minor surgeries since which were successful in address the primary issues, but his thinned blood lead to dangerous hemorrhaging which almost killed him twice.

[LeftishBrit]

13. There are several possibilities

Surgery is far safer than it used to be, but there can still be risks, especially if the patient is very elderly or in poor health to begin with. The patient could develop a severe infection, such as MRSA. The patient could develop a fatal blood clot or air embolism. Especially if the patient already has a weak heart, they could have a heart attack as a result of the anaesthesia/ stress of surgery/ subsequent immobility.

Fortunately, fatal complications are not common, but sadly they do sometimes happen.

[randome]

15. Hopefully, Armstrong's doctor(s) did all he/she/they could.

Can you imagine being the surgeon who has to live with the knowledge that Neil Armstrong died after he/she operated on him?

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. I'm not medically trained but it happened to my MIL

She had a stroke during surgery. Caused by the surgery but no negligence on the surgeon's part.