Tummy Tuck Surgeon Removed Surgical Drains Too Soon? Result: Bad Complications

Stephanie,

Wow! Sorry to hear that. That's probably one of the worst surgical drain related complications that I have heard.

Now I can't give you any medical or legal advice, but here are some thoughts. (Remember, nothing here is medical advice. I don't want to steer
you the wrong way).

- Leaving the surgical drain in for longer than 6 days could give you an infection? I guess that's true, but I would think that you could get an
infection anytime the surgical drains are in. I have never heard that 6 days is a magical number. If you look at the tummy tuck forum and sort the category Colum for surgical drains you will find many cases where surgical drains have remained installed for several weeks. From your writing it sounds like your doctor just used that as an excuse to pull it so he go out of town. As far a pulling it when it is still draining over 100 cc's of blood (with clots), the decision is probably up to the doctor's discretion, but it sure sounds fishy.

- It sounds like you have been bouncing around from the surgeon (who travels a lot), his nurse, his backup surgeon, the er doctor and whoever else. I would find (if you don't already have one) a family doctor could take control over your medical issues. He could also provide another and
independent second opinion to your surgeon.

- To tell if you have an infection, go to doctor. He is the only one that can tell for sure. He may culture the fluid to find out exactly what's going on and treat you accordingly. Here are some general signs of an infected surgical incision (info only).

General Signs Of An Infected Surgical Incision
1. Feeling of tiredness and lack of energy that won't go away and does not get better each day following surgery.
2. Fever with chills. A low-grade fever (100 F or less) is common in the days following surgery, a fever of 101 or more should be reported to the
surgeon.
3. Loss of appetite, headache.
4. Hot Incision. An infected incision may feel hot to the touch.
5. Hardening of the incision.
6. Puffy or swollen appearance of the incision.
7. Increasing redness at the incision area or redness that won't go away with time.
8. Foul smelling green, white, yellow, blood tainted, thick, chunky drainage. (take your pick)
9. Increase of pain or pain that won't subside with time.
10. Skin Changes at the incision area. Rashes, bumps, raw looking, lumpy, ripples or swollen.

- When (if) you go to a family doctor to take charge of your medical treatment and well being, I would write down and document every detail of
your ordeal and give a copy of it to the doctor. That way nothing is left out or forgotten and it becomes part of your medical record.

- After you have recovered, you may want to look into whether your surgeon made the right decisions and acted accordingly.

As to.. "I was wondering if I could have something seriously wrong with me. Could I die from this? Do I have an infection?
Only a doctor can tell you. I would find a good one as quickly as possible.

Good luck.

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