complication
In medicine, a complication is an undesirable consequence of an illness , an accident , an intervention or a medication that does not belong to the clinical picture in the narrower sense.
Complications usually require therapy or a change in therapy. A serious complication is when a hospital stay is necessary or has to be extended for therapy, or when death occurs as a result.
Complications that are known to be frequent and / or dangerous are often countered with preventive measures .
An example of a complication is deep vein thrombosis after surgery . The thrombosis itself can be complicated by a pulmonary embolism . Early mobilization, subcutaneously administered heparin preparations and close-fitting medical thrombosis prophylaxis stockings are suitable for prevention .
In some situations a complication cannot be distinguished from a side effect . As a result of the "blood-thinning" therapy in thrombosis, bleeding can occur, which can then be regarded as a complication of the clinical picture or as a side effect of the drug treatment.
Risks for the surgeon
In general, a complication is something that affects the sick person. However, it can also at the operating physician lead to complications during the procedure, especially if not inconsiderable force has to be applied. A British surgeon heard a crack while installing an artificial hip . Assuming that installing the hip endoprosthesis had caused a crack in the thigh bone because the prosthesis used was too large, he switched to a smaller model. The postoperative x-rays , however, were perfect; However, a bone fracture was found in the swollen hand of the surgeon in the III. Metacarpal bones as the cause of the cracking noise heard.
"Orthopedic surgery requires not only brute force and ignorance but brute force, ignorance, and perception of pain."
Individual evidence
- ^ Gisela C. Fischer, Eberhard Hesse, Adalbert Keseberg, Thomas Lichte, Heinz-Peter Romberg (eds.): Complications in the family doctor's practice. Recognize - act - avoid. Springer, Vienna et al. 2004, ISBN 3-211-83872-4 , p. 13.
- ↑ IJ Brenkel, M. Pearse, PJ Gregg: A "cracking" complication of hemiarthroplasty of the hip. In: British Medical Journal . Vol. 293, No. 6562, 1986, p. 1648, doi: 10.1136 / bmj.293.6562.1648 .
