Post-operative Complications

Complications following surgical procedures are not only associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but also add immensely to the psychological burden of the patient and are disappointing for the surgical team. Recent research has led to a greater understanding of the response to surgery and anaesthesia, and great advances have been made in pre-operative preparation with appropriate investigations and pharmacological prophylaxis. These have reduced the incidence of many complications, but the risks are impossible to remove completely. This wide-reaching and practical handbook covers all aspects of post-surgical complications. It is divided into two sections: the first covers general complications such as pressure sores, complications of fluid balance and problems related to anaesthesia, while the second focuses on the complications encountered in the major surgical specialties. Fully revised and updated since the previous edition, and written by a team of experts, Post-operative Complications is essential reading for all those involved in caring for surgical patients. It is particularly relevant for junior doctors and those preparing for their membership of the Royal College of Surgery (MRCS) exams. Divided into both the general complications and the major surgical specialties for easy access to information Provides relevant information for junior doctors and those preparing for their membership of the Royal College of Surgery (MRCS) exams Written by a diverse team of experts from all areas of surgery Edited by David Leaper , Visiting Professor, Department of Wound Healing, Cardiff University, UK, and Iain Whitaker , Specialist Registrar in Plastic, Reconstructive and Burns Surgery, Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Swansea, UK CONTENTS General Complications 1: Post-operative pain 2: Infection 3: Cardiovascular complications after surgery in general 4: Complications related to fluid and electrolyte management in surgical patients 5: Complications of nutrition 6: Complications of blood transfusion and coagulation 7: Pressure sores 8: Complications related to use of medicines in surgery 9: Neurological complications after surgery Complications after specific types of surgery 10: Complications of gastrointestinal surgery 11: Complications of peripheral vascular surgery 12: Complications of cardiothoracic surgery 13: Complications of abdominal transplant surgery 14: Complications of thoracic outlet decompression and thoracoscopic sympathectomy 15: Complications of vascular interventional radiology 16: Complications of varicose vein surgery 17: Complications of orthopaedic surgery 18: Complications of amputation 19: Complications of urological surgery 20: Complications of ENT and head and neck surgery 21: Complications after breast surgery 22: Complications of plastic surgery 23: Complications of hand surgery 24: Consent and other medicolegal issues Contributors: A. Ross Anderson, Specialist Registrar in ENT, Head and Neck surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, UK   M. A. Benton, Department of Haematology, ABMU Trust and Welsh Blood Service, Singleton Hospital Swansea, UK   Scott Cairns, Research Registrar, Department of Wound Healing, Cardiff University, UK   Anwar Chahal, Fellow in Cardiovascular Medicine, Critical Care Unit, St George's Hospital, London, UK   Joanna Chikwe, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, USA   Jonathan Cooke, Director of Research and Development and Clinical Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Management   University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, UK   Renee Debray, Surgical Pharmacist, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, UK   Andrew Elsmore, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Royal London Hospital, UK   Martin Gardner, Consultant Anaesthetist and Lead Clinician Acute Pain Service, Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust,   Surrey, UK   Alison Gregg, Directorate Pharmacist for Theatres, General Anaesthetics and Pain, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, UK   Dean Harris, Specialist Registrar, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, UK   L. Y. Hiew, Consultant Plastic and Breast Reconstructive Surgeon, Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK   Sam Huddart, Specialist Trainee in Anaesthetics   Nicholas Inston, Consultant Surgeon, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, UK   Paul Jones, Consultant Urological Surgeon, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK   Amelia Jukes, Nutrition Support Dietitian - Clinical lead, University Hospital of Wales, UK   Sairan Koron, Specialist Trainee in Medicine, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust, UK   David Leaper, Visiting Professor, Department of Wound Healing, Cardiff University, UK   Lyndon Mason, Specialist Trainee, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff   James McDaid, Specialist registrar in transplant surgery, West Midlands Deanery, UK   Ruth Murdoch, Principal Pharmacist for Surgery & Education/Development, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, UK   N. Naderi, Burns and Plastic Surgery Department, ABMU Trust, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, Wales, UK   Warren M. Rozen, Senior Research Fellow, Jack Brockhoff Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Research Unit   The University of Melbourne, Australia   Julian Scott, Professor of Vascular Surgery, Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health and Therapeutics and Leeds General Infirmary, UK   Kayvan Shokrollahi, Specialist Registrar, Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK   N. D. Stafford, Postgraduate Medical Institute, University of Hull, UK   Ian Thomas, Specialist Registrar in General Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK   Jared Torkington, Consultant Surgeon, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, UK   Max Troxler, Trainee in Vascular Surgery, Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health and Therapeutics and Leeds General Infirmary, UK   Iain Whitaker, Plastic, Reconstructive and Burns Surgery, Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK   Jamie Wooton, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, UK