Many women in the Houston area undergo a hysterectomy each year. The surgery to remove the uterus is one of the most common surgeries performed on females; however, a surgical error could occur, leading to an unexpected serious injury for women who undergo this procedure.
A hysterectomy is the second most common surgery performed on women who are of reproductive age after a caesarian section. More than a third of all women will have had a hysterectomy performed on them by the time they are 60. Even with the incredible number of surgeries performed each year, serious complications could arise. One complication is unexpected infection, which occurs in close to 30 percent of patients. The infection can occur at the surgical site or in the surrounding areas. Other complications include hemorrhaging, damage to internal organs and damage to the bowel or bladder area.
When the uterus is removed at a young age, a woman may also have increased risk of a heart attack, stroke and early menopause. Other side effects include sexual problems, incontinence, fistula and hormone deficiencies. Clearly these effects can be detrimental for women and cause quite a bit of pain and suffering.
Anyone who believes they have faced unexpected injury because of a hysterectomy may want to consult with a legal professional skilled in medical malpractice. An attorney can review medical records and determine what happened and what caused the unexpected injury. Compensation may be available for pain and suffering, lost wages, unexpected medical expenses and other damages. Injured patients should learn more about medical malpractice claims and whether it is an appropriate action to take.
Source: National Women’s Health Network, “Hysterectomy“, accessed on May 31, 2015
