Surgical Stapler Injury Lawyers can Help Persons Suffering Staple Complications

Medical providers commonly use surgical staples in medical procedures in the United States. Surgeons use surgical staples to close wounds in the skin. Many medical professionals believe surgical staples are quicker, more uniform, and can help patients heal faster. Some surgeons have even used surgical staples to repair damaged organs.

Unfortunately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received thousands of reports regarding medical complications caused by surgical staples. Surgical staple injuries have caused over 100 deaths in the United States in recent years, according to news reports.

Many different problems and injuries can arise from the use of surgical staples. In some cases, surgical staple manufacturers have failed to warn patients about the potential dangers of using surgical staples. Determining the thickness into which a staple is placed is often difficult. When a surgeon uses surgical staples that are too small, the affected area on a patient may not close completely. As a result, a person may continue to suffer from bleeding, leakage, and can be at risk of developing an infection. Likewise, if surgeons use surgical staples that are too large, the staples can damage a patient's tissue and organs.

Sometimes patients who receive surgical staples do not begin to manifest symptoms until a few days after a surgical event. Symptoms of infected surgical staples can include vomiting, pain, and severe reactions that can lead to a potentially deadly condition known as sepsis. A person who is suffering symptoms after receiving surgical staples should immediately seek medical treatment.

Surgeons began using modern surgical staplers in the 1960s. Staples became an attractive alternative to stitches largely because they reduce the amount of time spent in the operating room. When a medical professional negligently employs surgical staples, a patient can suffer life-threatening injuries including infections and organ damage.

Over the past few decades, more and more patients have elected to undergo a procedure called gastric bypass, to the point that the procedure has become one of the most common surgeries in the United States. During the procedure, the surgeon divides a person's stomach into two different parts. Surgeons use surgical staples during the process, leaving patients at risk for complications.

Surgical staples are now commonly used in a wide range of medical procedures. However, surgical staples can present unique dangers when surgeons use them near organs. Claimants have brought claims against medical professionals alleging the negligent use of surgical staples in the following matters:

• Colostomies;
• Gastric bypass surgeries and bariatric surgeries;
• Neck and thoracic surgeries;
• Appendectomies;
• Lung surgeries;
• Heart surgeries.

Some injured patients have pointed to misfiring or improperly formed staples as the source of their injuries, while others have alleged that staples became jammed in their tissue, causing a range of serious injuries. In some cases, patients have alleged that when surgeons removed the stapling device, one or more staples still clung to the device, causing skin tearing and excessive tissue damage.

Some surgeons have been accused of deviating from the accepted standard of care in the deployment of surgical staples. For example, one surgeon attempted to use a surgical stapler to make space within the patient's pelvic cavity. The surgeon accidentally caused a staple to become affixed into the affected patient's bladder.

In other cases, medical professionals have been accused of choosing the surgical stapler, even when that was the least effective option for closing a patient's wound. A surgeon may choose a surgical stapler over other options because it is faster than hand-sewn anastomosis. Every surgeon possesses a duty to carefully review a patient's medical history and select the most reasonable option for a patient.

If you have suffered an infection, internal bleeding, leakage, a hernia, or septic shock due to surgical staples, you may be entitled to compensation. The need for corrective surgery can cause additional complications and can cost a significant amount of money. When surgeons fail to use reasonable care while operating on patients, they are liable for any injuries they cause. The most important step you can take if you have been injured is to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer.

The professionals at Arnold & Smith, PLLC will review your case and advise you on the best legal strategy in a case. Medical malpractice cases are incredibly complex, and it may make sense to consult with professionals who possess the necessary resources and experience to protect your claim and advocate for your interests. Contact us as soon as possible to schedule your free initial consultation.