In the operating room, there are a number of moving parts and people responsible for ensuring everything is safe and ready to go.
One of the most important aspects of an operating room is the equipment used for the surgery, such as scalpels, forceps, and other surgical instruments. It’s important to ensure that these are completely sterile before they are used in order to prevent serious complications.
If surgical instruments are not sterile, it can lead to a number of problems. Here are some of the things you should know about surgical instruments and why it is so important that they are sterilized before a surgery.
Contamination Puts the Patient at Risk
Certain residue left on surgical instruments can put the patient at serious risk of infection should the instrument be used during surgery. Depending on what is left on the instrument, this may also mean the spread of serious illnesses or diseases such as HIV/AIDs, Hepatitis, and more.
This could lead to patients becoming very ill and requiring further medical attention following the surgery. It’s important to inspect all instruments prior to surgery in order to protect those on the operating table.
Sterilization in One Area Can Impact an Entire Hospital
Infection is a serious issue in a location where so many people have weakened immune systems. Infections can spread to more than just one patient impacted by the contaminated surgical instrument. This can be a large scale problem for the entire hospital.
The Possibility of Long-Term Illnesses
Depending on what type of contamination occurs and what is spread on the surgical instrument, patients may contract serious illnesses as a result of the contamination. This can also require long-term care and attention. In some cases, some illnesses may be fatal.
When hospitals have issues involving contamination, they should be held responsible for any damages that occur to patients affected by the lack of sterilization. This is exactly what happened at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver, and our team is here to help. We’ve even opened a Porter Hospital lawsuit because of patients dealing with infections from sterilization failure.
Denver Trial Lawyers ® has extensive experience in representing individuals who have been harmed as a result of a medical facility’s neglect. Whether a doctor, nurse, or other staff member is at fault, we work to secure the compensation our clients need. Our hospital infection lawyers work hard to show surgical site infection or that patients were infected during surgery.
Call today at (303) 647-9990 to discuss your potential case.
