Organ Puncture/Perforation

Organ puncture or perforation occurs when organ tissue is torn, cut or damaged during a medical procedure. This can occur unintentionally during any surgery that necessitates the use of precise, sharp instruments. Even a relatively minor cut with scissors, scalpels or lasers, or an unintended perforation and puncture of delicate organ tissue can lead to severe organ damage. When organ puncture or perforation occurs as the result of a surgical error, the patient may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.

According to a 2004 patient safety report, an estimated 112,000 cases of accidental puncture or laceration occurred in the U.S. during a recent two-year period. Organ puncture or perforation can occur in numerous surgical procedures, including certain operations that carry a higher-than-normal risk for this very serious mistake.

• Liposuction surgery: More than 450,000 liposuction procedures are performed annually, making it the most popular form of cosmetic surgery. However, the procedure carries risks. Doctors performing liposuction use an instrument called the cannula, or suction probe. It can be difficult to see the exact location of the suction probe while it is being used, which can lead to organs being accidentally damaged during the procedure. There are approximately three deaths for every 100,000 liposuction operations.

• Laparoscopic surgery: An estimated 5 percent of laparoscopic procedures result in complications, including some that can be fatal. The instruments used in laparoscopic surgeries are supposed to be minimally invasive to the body, and the procedure involves smaller incisions into the body than more traditional surgery. While this makes for an easier healing time when performed properly, it also gives the surgeon less room to work. A doctor may face difficulty operating the high-precision instruments while viewing the surgical area on a video monitor, and he may accidentally perforate an organ.

Doctors and nurses need to pay close attention to a patient following surgery to look for signs of organ damage that may have gone unnoticed during the procedure itself. A tiny laceration may produce dangerous complications. If the patient isn’t monitored adequately, these complications can turn into life-threatening conditions.

Some of the primary signs of organ puncture that medical staff should be watching for include:

• Hypotension (low blood pressure);
• Decreased breathing;
• Chest pain;
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath or difficult or labored breathing);
• Hematoma (bruising associated with internal bleeding or hemorrhage); and
• Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).

If you or a loved one has suffered from organ puncture or perforation as a result of surgical error or medical negligence, a medical malpractice attorney with experience in organ puncture and perforation claims can help evaluate the circumstances of your injury or illness. Your lawyer will work with accredited medical experts to evaluate whether healthcare standards were met and provide you with your legal options.

For more than two decades, the attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. have represented medical malpractice victims in legal claims across Illinois, including but not limited to Chicago, Lake County, Cook County, Aurora, Rockford, Naperville, Joliet, Springfield, North Peoria, Peoria, Elgin, Waukegan, DuPage County, Will County, Kane County, Winnebago County, McHenry County, Madison County, and St. Clair County.

If you have concerns about your medical care, please contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. for a free, no-obligation consultation at 877.420.1269. Please keep in mind that there are strict deadlines for filing medical malpractice actions. The statute of limitations may be running on your claim, so time is of the essence.