Surgical Instrument Left Inside Body Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

As a patient, agreeing to surgery—regardless of how necessary—always requires putting a huge amount of trust in your surgeon and your surgical team. You know that there are risks, but when the surgery is medically necessary, there may be no alternative. When your surgeon fails to put your best interests first, is poorly trained or simply deviates from the generally accepted medical standards of care, the resulting harm can be serious and even catastrophic. Despite this, we all require medical care at some point and surgeons cannot guarantee a positive outcome in all cases—making medical malpractice cases especially complicated to prove.  When surgical instruments are left inside the body, however, the case for malpractice becomes much simpler to establish. A skilled Pittsburgh lawyer for surgical instrument left inside body injuries can help you file a claim.

Surgical instruments left in the body are included in the list of “never events” developed by the medical community, meaning that leaving a surgical instrument in the patient’s body is always a deviation from the standard of care to which the medical professional is expected to adhere.  While any number of factors can contribute to circumstances where a surgical instrument is left behind, those causes almost always point to medical negligence on the part of your surgeon or surgical team.

At Matzus Law, LLC, an experienced Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyer are dedicated to doing our part to keep our local hospitals as safe as possible. If you have discovered or suspect that a surgical tool has been left in your body, call us today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Surgical Instruments Left Inside the Body Classified as Medical “Never Events” in Pittsburgh

When a surgical instrument is left behind in the patient’s body, the results can be severe.  While some instruments may cause you to suffer chronic and debilitating pain, sharp objects that are left behind can cause catastrophic and difficult to explain internal bleeding. In almost all cases, a second surgery will be required to remove the object, resulting in more time spent away from work and more extreme medical bills. Surgical instruments that are commonly left inside the patient’s body may include:

• Sponges used to soak up blood during the surgery
• Surgical masks and towels used to ensure sanitary surgical conditions
• Scalpels used for cutting the tissue
• Scissors used in stitching or cutting
• Forceps designed to hold back parts of the body
• Clips or clamps used to stop or slow bleeding during the surgery
• Tubes or suction tips used to redirect the blood flow or syphon blood from the surgical field

Surgical Instruments Left Inside Body Can Result In Extreme Consequences For Patients

When a surgical instrument is left behind in the patient’s body, the results can be extreme.  Surgical instruments may move within the body or become lodged in a particular region. Common complications that can arise when a surgical tool is left behind include:

• Pain, which obviously results when a foreign object presses against your internal organs or causes internal damage
• Obstructions, which can block your blood’s flow to the organs and cause serious complications
• Infection, which is usually caused by the bacteria found on the surgical tool and magnified when that instrument is trapped within the body
• Internal bleeding, which is especially common where a metal object or even a surgical scalpel is the instrument left within the body

At Matzus Law, LLC, our compassionate team of medical malpractice lawyers understand how exhausting surgery can be even if everything goes according to plan. When you suspect or discover that a surgical instrument has been left behind and you will now be required to undergo an additional surgery and treatment for any side effects, the exhaustion and frustration you will feel is only magnified. We know that your health is your number one concern, which is why we take on the responsibility of advocating on your behalf to make sure you are fully compensated for the harm you have suffered.

Contact an Experienced Pittsburgh Lawyer for Guidance in Recovering Compensation for Surgical Instruments Left Inside Your Body

Surgical instruments left in the body usually present relatively straightforward medical malpractice cases from the standpoint of establishing liability. Despite this, your case can be complicated by any number of factors, and the insurance companies involved generally remain motivated to minimize the amount of compensation you will receive.

An experienced Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyer is here to help ensure you receive compensation that not only accounts for your current expenses but all potential future expenses as well as your pain and suffering. Schedule a free initial case evaluation today by calling our office and speaking to a Pittsburgh lawyer for surgical instrument left inside body injuries or filling out this online contact form.

Frequently Asked Questions About Claims Involving Surgical Instruments Left in Patients’ Body

What steps can the surgical team take to ensure that surgical instruments are not left inside the body before closing the incision?

Because of the extreme nature of the consequences that can result when surgical instruments are left in the body, every surgical team should maintain a checklist of the items that are used during your surgery. At various points during a longer surgery, or at minimum before closing the incision, a full inventory of those items should be made to ensure that nothing is left behind.

What are some of the reasons why surgical instruments may be left inside the body after surgery?

Even if your surgeon executes your surgery itself well, operating rooms are often a high-pressure environment that can make circumstances ripe for error. In some cases, the surgical team may be understaffed or undertrained, or the protocols put into place for preventing situations where surgical instruments are left behind may be inadequate. Surgical staff members may fail to communicate effectively so that all parties believe that another party has conducted the required “count” of the items used during surgery—or the surgical staff may simply be exhausted. Regardless of the cause, there is never an acceptable reason why surgical instruments should be accidentally left in the body after the incision has been closed.