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General surgical risks Tūraru pokenga noa
Your risk of complications after surgery depends on the type of procedure you are having and your general physical health. Before your surgery, your surgeon will talk through possible risks, answer your questions and get your consent to have surgery.
Bleeding during or after surgery
Bleeding can be an issue during or after surgery. If you bleed too much, you may need to go back to the operating theatre for more surgery and you could need a blood transfusion.
You may develop a haematoma (collection of blood) that needs draining.
Blood clots during or after surgery
Blood clots are a serious complication. They can cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism. Any lengthy operation can cause blood clots, but your healthcare team make every effort to avoid them.
You are usually given special stockings to wear during your stay in hospital. You may also be given special medication to minimise the risk, such as a daily injection of enoxaparin into your tummy.
Infections after surgery
Infections could include chest, wee (urine) and wound infections that can be slow to heal. In some surgeries there is also a risk of infection in the blood (septicaemia) that can make you very unwell. Antibiotics will be used to treat these infections if they develop.
Pain after surgery
Following surgery, you will have some pain. Everyone experiences pain differently. The surgical and anaesthetic team will prescribe pain relief medicines and advise you on how to manage your pain when you go home.
Tissue injury during surgery
During surgery there is some risk of injury to nearby tissue or organs. The surgeon will try to minimise any chance of this happening.
Occasionally, there may be damage to nerves in the area of the surgery. This can cause numbness on the skin near the wound that could last for weeks or months. The numbness may be permanent if the nerve does not heal.
Injured or damaged nerves can cause pain. If you are still getting pain after 2 to 3 months, you should see your healthcare provider.
Delayed recovery after surgery
Some people take longer to recover after surgery than others. This can depend on things such as age or pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or immune problems.
Scarring after surgery
Your surgeon will explain what type of scar you are likely to have after your surgery.
Most scars fade over time but some people:
- experience pain from their scar for some time after surgery — this usually improves over time
- develop thickening of their scars (this is called hypertrophic scarring)
- have a condition called keloid scarring, which is caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue.
You should tell your surgeon if you have had trouble with scarring before. Your surgeon may recommend supporting your wound with a type of tape for 6 to 8 weeks after the surgery. This can help reduce scarring.
Informed consent
Healthcare services may be provided to you only if you make an informed choice and give informed consent to it. This forms part of your rights (Rights 5, 6 and 7) under the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer Rights (the Code).
The Code and Your Rights/Ōu Mōtika — Health & Disability Commissioner
The 3 rights that together allow for informed consent are:
- Right 5 — the right to effective communication
- Right 6 — the right to be informed
- Right 7 — the right to choice and consent.
This means you must be told about the service being suggested, including any risks or possible complications. You must have the chance to ask as many questions as you need to understand the information you are given.
You also have the right to have someone with you to help you. But the decision to say 'yes' or 'no' must be yours (unless you are unable to make that decision due to illness or other impairment, or sometimes in an emergency).
You also have the right to be given the information in a language you fully understand. You can ask for an interpreter if you need one.