What Is Surgical Complication?
Question: What does complication mean?
Answer: A complication refers to unwanted situations that may arise during the surgical process. This does not mean they will definitely occur, but they should be discussed and planned for as possibilities.
Question: If a complication occurs, is that a “mistake”?
Answer: A complication does not always mean an error. What matters is that the risk is discussed in advance, recognized early, and that an appropriate intervention plan exists if needed.
Three clear questions when discussing complication risk
- Do I have any special factors that increase my risk? (smoking, diabetes, obesity, etc.)
- What are the 3 most common complications?
- What steps will be taken if they occur?