If you or a loved one is considering undergoing surgery, make sure that you have considered all of your options. All surgeries have a certain amount of risk involved in them. It is important that you understand the risks involved with any surgery you, or a loved one, is going to partake in. Having an open line of communication with your doctors throughout the process can help make sure that your symptoms after the surgery are completely normal. Learn about the 4 dangerous surgeries to avoid down below.
Four Surgeries To Avoid
AARP Magazine released an informative piece about the top 4 most dangerous surgeries. All surgeries come with risks and should not be undergone lightly. However, these 4 common surgeries, according to the article, are an unnecessary risk, and in many cases you can get the same results from a lifestyle change.
The first type of surgery is Stents for Stable Angina. Stents are tiny mesh tubes that a surgeon will insert into arteries to keep them open so that blood flow remains constant to the heart. In the case of a heart attack they are meant to be life saving devices that keep the heart and blood pumping. Stable Angina is a type of chest pain that some patients get with exertion or stress.
According to the article, undergoing a surgery for Stents if you have Stable Angina will not necessarily help if you have a heart attack, and the procedure has not been shown to be a life prolonging surgery for this disease. In fact, in a double blind randomised controlled trial, the surgery did not outperform placebo procedures. Instead, one could make a lifestyle change by taking statins to lower cholesterol, or exercising more frequently.
The other three surgeries are:
- Complex spinal fusion for Stenosis,
- Hysterectomy for uterine Fibroids,
- Knee Arthroscopy for Osteoarthritis.
Most of these surgeries are considered too extreme and unnecessary. There are many alternative, less invasive options that are available instead of these surgeries. There is also a lot that can be done by changing unhealthy habits and getting more excercise. However, in some more serious and dire situations, when someone is unhealthy and suffering greatly, there isn’t always a lot they can do by solely changing their lifestyle. It’s important to consult your doctor for their advice whatever situation you may find yourself in.
The Statistics
It is shocking how many people have serious surgeries every year. With fairly recent technological advances surgery is becoming more and more efficient and common. However, outpatient surgeries are on the rise as well. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that an estimated 57.1 million surgical and nonsurgical procedures were performed during 34.7 million outpatient surgery visits in 2006. Also, outpatient surgery visits accounted for nearly two thirds of all surgery visits in 2006. The most common outpatient procedures performed included endoscopes of the large and small intestines, and cataract surgery. This means that the leading diagnosis for outpatient surgery visits were cataracts. The second most frequent outpatient surgeries were for malignant and benign tumors. The average outpatient surgery lasted between 40 and 60 minutes. When tallying the data the report showed that females had significantly more ambulatory surgery visits than males, a difference of about 6 million.
Now What?
You may be wondering what can be done if you have undergone one of these surgeries and suffered serious consequences because of it. It is important to know where to turn.
If you have serious side effects or injuries from going through with a risky surgery, there are options for you. If you think that your surgery went poorly and your side-effects and injuries are the result of negligent behavior, you should contact an attorney for a free consultation, and learn what your legal options are.
If you feel that you were not given enough options from your insurance company, and therefore went through with a risky procedure, you may also be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. It is common that insurance companies act in bad faith and look for the cheapest option for them. This option may not have ultimately been in your best interest. If you feel like you have been treated unfairly by your insurance company, an experienced attorney can help you build a case against them.
Contact Smith & Smith For Help Today
Pueblo, Colorado lawyers at Smith & Smith have decades of experience and knows how to stand up to the big insurance companies. He has spent his life defending the rights of injured Coloradans. Call Smith & Smith today for a free consultation at (719) 544-0062, and get answers to your legal questions.
