For many residents of the Pittsburgh area the thought of having to undergo a surgery is a scary prospect. There is good reason for that fear as a multitude of things can go wrong in even the most routine procedures. These mistakes can be due to a myriad of factors. According to a recent study, including the age of the surgeon performing the procedure.

The study which was published last month in Archives of Surgery found that distractions during surgery including noises and questions can lead surgeons between the ages of 27 and 35 to take actions resulting in outcomes classified as a "significant mistakes." The significant mistakes made by the residents who were in either their second, third or research- year, could lead to death, additional injuries or damage to the individual. As we wrote about in a previous post, the outcome was even worse when the surgical procedure was done in the afternoon.

A total of 44 percent of the individuals in this demographic who took part in the study made such mistakes while performing a simulated gall-bladder-removal operation. Older surgeons did not take part in the study.

The distractions in study took several forms including the ring of a cellphone and dropping equipment on the floor. By far the most serious consequences arose when the surgeons fielded questions regarding other patients.

Whatever the reason for the surgical error, it is important that injured individuals are aware of their options. They may be able to recover money damages for the injuries suffered. A lawyer who handles medical malpractice cases should be able to help determine the best way to proceed.

Source: HealthDay News, "Young Surgeons May Be Easily Distracted," Dec. 4, 2012

Our firm handles similar situations to the one discussed in this post. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Pittsburgh surgical errors page.