Surgical Procedures

Surgery is an inherently risky undertaking. Your doctor will recommend surgery when the risks of surgery are outweighed by the benefits. When discussing your surgery, you will be told what type of procedure is recommended, what alternatives there are, the risks and benefits of surgery, the type of anesthesia required, and the expected outcomes. 

Each person is unique in both their anatomy and their ability to heal and tolerate surgery. We are not always able to anticipate all aspects of surgery or its outcomes.  Our surgeons are highly skilled, but complications happen regardless of surgeon skill and judgement. Most complications are infrequent (less than 10%) or rare (less than 1%), but if you experience a complication, it can be life-threatening or life-altering. Some, but not all, of the risks to surgeries we commonly perform are listed below. Underlying medical conditions that increase your risk are also listed below.

We encourage you to talk to your physician and ask questions you may have. 

Risks 

Adverse reaction to anesthesia 

Bleeding 

Infection (in skin incisions, muscle layers, or deep inside the chest or abdomen) 

Failure of healing 

Recurrence of condition 

Chronic pain 

Damage to nearby structures (nerves, blood vessels, internal organs) 

Respiratory failure 

Heart attack 

Stroke 

Blood clots 

Death 

Need for additional procedures 

Underlying medical conditions that increase risk 

Poor nutritional status 

Need for assistance with activities of daily living or require total care 

Type 2 Diabetes 

Congestive heart failure (CHF) 

Emphysema or COPD 

Cirrhosis of the liver 

End-stage renal disease requiring dialysis 

Active tobacco use (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, vaping)