Prolonged Fever; a Case Report of Medical Malpractice

Area of Science:

• Medical Case Study
• Surgical Complications
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Surgical procedures carry inherent risks and potential complications.
• Inadvertent retained surgical items necessitate immediate reporting and patient disclosure.
• Educating healthcare professionals on managing such critical incidents is vital.

Observation:

• A 27-year-old female patient with a history of renal failure presented with prolonged fever.
• The patient had a Shaldon catheter inadvertently retained within her chest post-surgery.
• This case highlights a critical patient safety event.

Findings:

• The retained Shaldon catheter was the cause of the patient's prolonged fever.
• Failure to promptly address retained surgical items can lead to severe patient outcomes.
• This underscores the importance of vigilance in surgical instrument counts and patient monitoring.

Implications:

• Reinforces the need for strict protocols to prevent retained surgical items.
• Emphasizes the ethical and disciplinary obligations of healthcare providers in such events.
• Highlights the importance of comprehensive patient evaluation and timely diagnosis in complex cases.