Skip to main content

Surgical Complications

Jonathan Andrew McKenzie, MD, MBA Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Any negative outcome in operative or postoperative period. Examples include wound complications (surgical site infection (SSI), wound dehiscence), hematoma, seroma, nerve injury, pos...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Wound infection: history of surgery several days prior to presentation with pain, warmth, redness, or drainage at site of incision

  • Seroma/hematoma: expanding mass at incision site; ser...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

  • Acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and opiates (as needed) for pain control (multimodal therapy)

  • VTE prophylaxis as appropriate

  • Broad-spectrum antibiotics for sepsis/severe infection

  • Simple wound...

REFERENCES

1
Berríos-Torres SI, Umscheid CA, Bratzler DW, et al; Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline for the prevention of su...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • ERAS Compliance Group. The impact of enhanced recovery protocol compliance on elective colorectal cancer resection: results from an International Registry...

CODES

ICD10

  • R50.82 Postprocedural fever

  • T81.4XXA Infection following a procedure, initial encounter

  • T81.31XA Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter

  • ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Smoking is associated with increased risk for general morbidity, wound complications, infections, pulmonary complications, neurologic complications, and admission to the intensive care...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

×