Surgical complications

Question 1

immediate post-op complications (<24h)

Answer 1

Intubation → oropharyngeal trauma
Surgical trauma to local structures
Primary or reactive haemorrhage

Question 2

early post op complications (1 day-1 month)

Answer 2

Secondary haemorrhage
VTE
Urinary retention
Atelectasis and pneumonia
Wound infection and dehiscence
Antibiotic association colitis (AAC)

Question 3

late post op complications (>1 month)

Answer 3

scarring
neuropathy
failure or recurrence

Question 4

Operation associated haemorrhage classification

Answer 4

primary - continuous bleeding starting during surgery
reactive - bleeding at the end of surgery or early post-op, secondary to cardiac output and BP
secondary - bleeding >24h post-op, usually due to infection