Do You Have a Higher Risk of Stroke During Surgery?
A stroke is one of the worst complications that can happen during surgery. In most surgeries, the chance of a strokeis low. However, in certain surgeries, such as high-risk cardiac and brain surgeries, the risk ofperioperative stroke(a stroke during surgery) could be as high asten percent. In addition to the type of surgery involved, there is a higher risk of stroke during surgery in certain types of people as well.
What Happens During a Stroke?
A stroke is a horrible injury that occurs when blood vessels in your brain become clogged or burst. Your body’s circulatory system delivers blood rich with oxygen and nutrients to your brain. When that blood flow is interrupted by a stroke, the brain cells begin to die within minutes, leading to potential brain damage or even death. The long-term health impact of a strokedepends on the severity and locationof the stroke within the brain, among other factors. Even if a person survives a stroke, the results can be devastating, including paralysis, speech problems, vision loss, loss of cognitive function, and other long-term disabilities. In severe cases of stroke, people can lose the ability to care for themselves.
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Why Are Some People More Prone to Strokes During Surgery?
People with certain health issues, such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, are at a higher risk of stroke, whether they are undergoing surgery or not. Other people have “non-modifiable” (i.e., unavoidable) traits that make them more likely to have a stroke during surgery, according to research published in the National Institutes of Health’sNational Library of Medicine. These include:
How Patients and Doctors Can Prevent Strokes During Surgery
Strokes result in as many as6.2 million deathsannually. While there are certain factors we cannot control, like our age and gender, there are lifestyle changes we can make to reduce our chances of a stroke. Maintaining a healthy diet and managing our weight are steps that reduce the circulatory issues that can contribute to strokes.
Medical professionals also must contend with risk factors that cannot be controlled, but there are also many risk factors that can be managed by doctors to avoid strokes during surgery. If you or a loved one was the victim of a stroke during surgery, resulting in serious injury or death, it is important to get the facts on existing risk factors that should have been considered to avoid the stroke. If you suspect that a stroke could have been prevented, it’s best to trust that instinct and get professional answers.
Contact Brown & Barron onlineor call(410) 547-0202for a free, no-obligation review of your case to determine if you could be entitled to a financial settlement.