The Seven Emergency General Surgeries Most Likely to Cause Death

Do you know someone who was injured or died after undergoing one of the following surgeries?

  • Partial removal of the small intestine;
  • Partial removal of the large intestine;
  • Surgery to repair a torn or bleeding ulcer;
  • Surgical removal of scar tissue from the abdomen;
  • Removal of the gallbladder;
  • Removal of the appendix;
  • Open-abdominal surgery

If so, you are not alone. According to a recent study, eighty percent of all emergency general surgery deaths relate to these seven procedures. Further, over half of those who undergo these emergency procedures develop a postoperative complication.

While complications occur even in the absence of medical negligence, medical providers need to do a better job of recognizing complications earlier. Indeed, in an invited commentary to this study, Dr. Martin G. Paul wrote: “Continued studies along these lines should provide direction for high-impact quality initiatives emphasizing not just a reduction in complications but an earlier recognition of these particularly morbid adverse events.”

The attorneys at Abramson, Brown & Dugan have investigated and successfully resolved many cases in which a medical provider failed to diagnose a complication arising from one of these seven emergency general surgery procedures. If your loved one was injured or died after undergoing one of these seven procedures at a New Hampshire hospital, contact one of our experienced attorneys today to discuss your specific case.