Que un cirujano se deje algo en el cuerpo parece algo que sólo se oye en los programas de noticias de investigación. Pero ocurre, y más a menudo de lo que probablemente piensa.
Si se ha sometido a una operación reciente, es crucial que conozca los posibles signos de advertencia de un objeto extraño. Es conveniente que conozca estos signos y busque tratamiento médico adicional antes de que se convierta en una afección potencialmente mortal.
El tipo de objetos que quedan en el cuerpo después de la cirugía puede variar mucho.
Objects left in the body after surgery, called retained surgical items (RSIs), are serious medical errors. Common RSIs include sponges, clamps, or instrument fragments. These can cause infection, internal damage, or chronic pain. Prompt diagnosis, removal, and legal consultation are critical if an RSI is suspected.
If you suspect you have a foreign object left in your body after surgery, contact a skilled medical malpractice lawyer at Poulos & Cavazos today.
You Are Not Overreacting
Something Feels Wrong Since Your Surgery. Trust That Instinct.
Ongoing pain, swelling, or a wound that will not heal is not just part of recovery.
You followed every instruction after your operation, and you still do not feel right. That is worth listening to. Poulos & Cavazos will help you understand what is happening and what your options are, with no pressure and no judgment.
Schedule A Free ConsultationSeñales de advertencia de los objetos que quedan en un cuerpo después de la cirugía
Foreign objects left in the body are often called retained surgical bodies (RSB) or unintended retained foreign objects (URFO). Depending on the circumstances, symptoms of a foreign object left in the body after surgery could appear immediately, weeks, months, or even years later.
Algunos objetos extraños pueden provocar la muerte, por lo que es fundamental saber qué hay que tener en cuenta después de una intervención quirúrgica. Los signos incluyen:
- Problemas para orinar;
- Estreñimiento;
- Heces sanguinolentas, negras o con aspecto de alquitrán;
- Sensibilidad o hinchazón cerca de la zona quirúrgica;
- Fiebre;
- Dolores de cabeza severos y recurrentes;
- Dolor intenso alrededor o cerca de la zona quirúrgica;
- Toser o vomitar sangre;
- Filtración cerca del sitio quirúrgico;
- Dolor intenso en la pierna;
- Dificultad con las funciones corporales básicas como comer, respirar y tragar;
- Pérdida de peso inexplicable;
- Ganglios linfáticos inflamados;
- Rayas cerca de la incisión;
- Adormecimiento de los pies o las manos;
- Olor desagradable procedente del lugar de la incisión;
- Dificultad para retener líquidos o alimentos, incluso si tiene hambre;
- Formación de abscesos o fístulas; y
- Un deterioro general de su salud.
Si tiene algún síntoma después de la operación, hable inmediatamente con un médico. Cuanto más espere, mayor será el riesgo de complicaciones.
Know Where You Stand
Foreign Object Left in Body After Surgery: What Las Cruces Patients Should Know
If your recovery has not gone as expected, understanding how a retained surgical item is identified and pursued under New Mexico law can help you decide on next steps.
- A retained sponge, clamp, needle, or instrument fragment can trigger infection, chronic pain, or a wound that will not heal, even when initial imaging looks unremarkable.
- New Mexico’s discovery rule can extend the standard three-year filing deadline when a retained object is not discovered until well after surgery.
- Liability in a retained-object case can extend beyond the operating surgeon to the surgical team and the hospital’s own counting and safety protocols.
- Reviewing operative notes, sponge counts, and imaging early helps preserve the evidence needed to support a New Mexico medical malpractice claim.
Complications from Foreign Object Left in Body: What Can Go Wrong?
Leaving a foreign object in the body after surgery can have devastating consequences. In addition to pain and infection, these retained objects can cause bowel obstructions, organ perforation, abscesses, and sepsis—a life-threatening immune response. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), retained surgical items occur in approximately 1 out of every 5,500 to 7,000 surgeries in the United States, but experts believe the real number may be higher due to underreporting.
The complications from a foreign object left in body cases vary depending on the type and location of the object, but all require swift medical attention. If you suspect something is wrong, don’t delay in getting a second opinion or requesting imaging tests such as an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan.
Vea lo que dicen nuestros clientes sobre nuestros servicios:
¿Cuáles son los riesgos de dejar un instrumento quirúrgico dentro de un paciente?
Si un objeto extraño (como una esponja quirúrgica) queda involuntariamente en el interior del cuerpo de un paciente tras una intervención quirúrgica, puede provocar problemas a largo plazo. Estos objetos pueden desencadenar una inflamación aséptica o una exudación sin infección, causando dolor o molestias persistentes durante meses o años.
Quedan restos metálicos en el cuerpo tras una operación
Un objeto retenido, como un clip metálico que queda en el cuerpo tras una intervención quirúrgica, es una negligencia médica. Los objetos retenidos causan complicaciones graves, como infecciones, daños en órganos y dolor crónico.
Retained Foreign Object and New Mexico Medical Malpractice Laws
Under New Mexico law, you generally have three years from the date of the alleged malpractice to file a lawsuit. However, in cases involving a foreign object left in the body after surgery, the clock may not start ticking until the patient discovers—or reasonably should have discovered—the issue. This exception is known as the “discovery rule.”
Because each case is different, consulting with a medical malpractice attorney who understands how New Mexico applies the discovery rule in retained foreign object cases is critical.
¿Listo para su consulta gratuita?
¿Puede presentar una demanda contra los responsables?
Sí, pero presentar una demanda por un objeto extraño que queda en el cuerpo después de una cirugía es complicado. Usted necesita un abogado experto de su lado que pueda guiarle a través del proceso y proteger sus derechos. Tiene derecho a reclamar una indemnización por sus lesiones y otros daños. Si su caso tiene éxito, puede recibir una compensación por lo siguiente:
- Sus gastos médicos;
- Costes médicos previstos en el futuro;
- Pérdida de salarios y de capacidad de ganancia;
- Dolor y sufrimiento; y
- Angustia mental.
Su abogado le ayudará a calcular el valor potencial de su caso y le hará saber qué daños y perjuicios puede recibir.
For You and Your Family
Watching Someone You Love Struggle After Surgery Is Frightening.
When recovery does not go the way it should, it is normal to feel scared and unsure of what to do next.
You do not have to carry this alone or figure out the medical and legal pieces on your own. Poulos & Cavazos will sit down with you, listen to the full story, and help you and your family understand what happened and what comes next.
Schedule A Free ConsultationWhy It’s So Important to Act Quickly
Delaying action when you suspect a foreign object left in the body after surgery can significantly increase your health risks. The longer a retained item stays inside your body, the more likely it is to cause irreversible damage—especially if it leads to infection, internal bleeding, or damage to nearby organs.
Taking action quickly helps preserve evidence. If you later pursue a medical malpractice case, documentation such as scans, treatment notes, and communication with doctors can strengthen your claim. A trusted legal team like Poulos & Cavazos can help ensure that every step you take supports both your health and your potential case.
Straight Answers
More Questions About a Foreign Object Left in Body After Surgery
Filing a foreign object left in body after surgery claim in New Mexico raises practical questions beyond the medical warning signs. Here are answers to what clients ask us most.
Yes. New Mexico’s discovery rule can extend your filing window when a retained item is not immediately apparent. Instead of the clock starting on the surgery date, it may start when you discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, the retained object. An attorney can confirm how this applies to your timeline.
Most retained-object malpractice cases are handled on contingency, meaning you pay no upfront legal fees. Poulos & Cavazos only collects a fee if your case results in a settlement or verdict, and your initial consultation is free.
You may be contacted by hospital risk management or an insurance adjuster, but you are not required to give a statement without legal counsel. Anything you say can be used to minimize your claim, so it is best to speak with an attorney before responding.
Strong evidence typically includes imaging such as X-rays or CT scans, operative and sponge-count records, post-surgical medical notes, and a documented timeline of your symptoms. An attorney can request and review these hospital records on your behalf.
Possibly. Even when a retained object is removed without severe complications, you may have grounds for a claim if it caused pain, required an additional procedure, extended recovery, or added medical costs. A case review can clarify whether your situation qualifies under New Mexico law.
What to Do If You Suspect a Foreign Object Left in the Body After Surgery – Contact a Las Cruces Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
Trust your instincts if you’re experiencing unusual symptoms or ongoing pain after a procedure. Seek immediate medical evaluation. Then, speak with the legal team at Poulos & Cavazos to explore your options. You deserve answers and justice.
Es esencial emprender acciones legales por la retención de un cuerpo quirúrgico. Hay que hacer que las partes responsables rindan cuentas para garantizar que nadie más salga perjudicado por su negligencia.
You likely need additional surgery to have the foreign body removed too. The surgical malpractice lawyers at Poulos & Cavazos primarily focuses on medical malpractice lawsuits.
Tenemos la experiencia legal y los recursos para ayudarle a obtener la máxima compensación contra los acusados. Póngase en contacto con nuestra oficina de Las Cruces hoy para programar una consulta inicial para aprender más acerca de cómo podemos ayudarle.
Serving Southern New Mexico
Serving Patients Across Southern New Mexico After a Foreign Object Left in Body After Surgery
When a surgeon leaves an object inside a patient’s body, the impact is not confined to one hospital or one town. Poulos & Cavazos represents clients throughout Las Cruces, Alamogordo, and Deming. Explore the map below to see the areas we serve, then reach out for a free, confidential case review.
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Victor Poulos, JD
For more than two decades, Victor Poulos has devoted his practice exclusively to representing patients and families harmed by medical negligence. He has handled complex medical malpractice cases involving hospitals, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare providers, and has taken hundreds of depositions of physicians, nurses, and hospital staff across nearly every medical specialty. Mr. Poulos has successfully tried high-stakes malpractice cases to verdict and is known for his meticulous case preparation and relentless advocacy on behalf of injured patients.
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