Sepsis After An Operation
Sepsis, or septicaemia, is the medical term for a blood infection. If you or your loved one has developed sepsis after an operation because of medical errors, you need to talk to a solicitor about the care provided.
We specialise in clinical negligence will tell you whether there has been a case of medical negligence. If so, one of our solicitors will discuss the next steps with you, asking whether you would like to make a medical compensation claim.
Claiming compensation enables you to obtain financial redress for the physical, emotional and monetary injuries you have incurred as a result of substandard medical care. While this cannot take back the damage that has been done, it will give you significant financial support for the future.
For more information on making a medical compensation claim, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today. Or for more information on sepsis after an operation, continue reading to find out what sepsis is, how it happens after a surgical procedure and whether medical error is to blame.
What is sepsis?
The terms sepsis and septicaemia are often used interchangeably. They both refer to an infection of the blood. The only difference is that septicaemia is always a bacterial infection of the blood. Sepsis can refer to a bacterial infection or a viral or fungal infection of the blood.
The blood flows throughout the body's tissues and organs, delivering oxygen and taking away waste products. The blood is also used to transport white blood cells and antibodies to target infections that arise. When the infection-fighting process takes place, the tissue around the site of the infection will become inflamed.
When an infection gets into the bloodstream, all of these functions will be distorted. Firstly, the body's immune system will try to fight the infection. But because it is present across the body in the blood, inflammation will also occur across the body.
This swelling will prevent the blood from being able to access the organs, meaning they do not get the oxygen they need, while waste products will also build up. This will lead to extremely low blood pressure, referred to medically as 'septic shock.'
The organs cannot function for very long without oxygen and will soon begin to shut down. The patient will then go into multi-system organ failure.
Why does sepsis happen after an operation?
Sepsis does not always happen after an operation. It can occur as a result of another infection, a pressure sore or other illness.
However, sepsis is a common post-operative complication. This is because the patient will have an open wound which is very vulnerable to infection. The skin is a natural defence against bacteria. Once it is cut open the body will immediately be more susceptible to infection as the wound provides an opportunity for the bacteria to get in.
Therefore sepsis happens after an operation because bacteria infect the surgical wound. It may be that the bacteria were present on a surgical instrument or tool. Alternatively the bacteria occur naturally on the skin and inside the body, and may infect the wound in this way.
When the wound becomes infected, it must be treated immediately. Otherwise the infection could get into the bloodstream, leading to sepsis.
What are the symptoms of post-operative sepsis?
If the infection does reach the bloodstream, a patient's condition will rapidly deteriorate. At first the patient will display symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Rapid heart beat
- Shallow, fast breathing
As the condition continues, further symptoms will also develop, including:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Feeling dizzy and faint
- Confusion and altered mental state
- Slurred speech
- Cold clammy skin
As the patient moves into septic shock, he/she will become extremely confused and may also lose consciousness.
How to diagnose and treat post-operative sepsis
When a patient who has recently undergone an operation develops a fever, fast heart beat and shallow breathing, medical practitioners should suspect an infection. Tests, such as blood tests, should be carried out immediately. This should lead to a quick diagnosis being made.
When sepsis is diagnosed, a patient should be treated without delay. Sepsis is treated with antibiotics and intravenous antibiotics. Depending upon how ill a patient has become, other treatment may also be needed. For instance, if their organs have begun to shut down, support will be needed in the Intensive Care Unit.
Failing to spot sepsis
Nevertheless, a diagnosis depends upon medical practitioners noticing a patient's symptoms and recognising them as the initial stages of sepsis. To do so, clinicians must monitor a patient closely, observing any deterioration in their condition.
Sadly nurses and doctors do not always spot the early warning signs of sepsis. Or in some cases, the change in a patient's condition is noted but the seriousness of the matter is not appreciated. Further investigations are not carried out and the patient is left untreated.
Is medical error to blame?
If nurses and/or doctors fail to monitor a patient, meaning their sepsis initially goes unnoticed, the standard of care will be considered unacceptable.
If nurses and/or doctors notice a change in the patient's condition but fail to act, the standard of care will be considered unacceptable.
If the actions of medical practitioners contributed towards the sepsis infection occurring, the standard of care will also be considered unacceptable. For example, if a patient is at risk of developing a post-operative infection, antibiotics should be administered as a preventative measure.
When substandard medical care cause a patient unnecessary harm – such as severe sepsis and organ failure – there will be grounds for a medical negligence claim.
Contact us today
Sepsis does arise as a post-operative complication and it will not always be negligent. However, there are certainly occasions when poor medical error is to blame. In such cases, the patient and their family deserve justice.
Making a medical negligence claim can help victims of medical negligence feel like they have achieved some form of justice. It also ensures that they have the financial support they need for the future.
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