Surgery always comes with a degree of risk, but most often a doctor can inform you of how large the risk is with a particular procedure and how beneficial that specific procedure would be in your case. Yet there are some surgeries are over performed without any benefit to those who receive them. Some of the procedures are money-makers, and hospitals, nurses, and doctors naturally recommend them in order to get more financial benefit for themselves.
Other times, the surgeries are recommended because they are fast, or because they work in a short-term sense. Unfortunately, this may not mean that they work well long-term. Evidence shows that these specific surgeries have questionable long-term outcomes, and therefore should be avoided. If you doctor recommends one of the following surgeries, you should make sure to get a second and even a third opinion before agreeing to the procedure.
One of the most common over performed surgeries is stents for stable angina. Stents are little mesh tubes that are used to prop open arteries that carry blood to the heart. Sometimes these arteries can narrow or collapse, causing serious cardiac risks. The stent can be a lifesaving device in the event of a heart attack, but for stable angina, a stent does not have any benefits.
The Department of Veterans Affairs did a study on the operation and discovered that stents are not any better at preventing a heart attack for a person with stable angina then exercising or taking statins to lower cholesterol. The stents are relatively ineffective for this purpose, but an average of 500,000 stents are implanted in individuals each year for chest pain. Surgeons normally do this during heart-cathertization procedures. If you are offered a stent procedure it would be best to discuss this option with a doctor before promptly agreeing.
In addition to this procedure, another surgery to avoid is complex spinal fusion for stenosis. According to AARP, this is a surgery that welds two or more vertebra together to prevent motion and eliminate back pain. The procedure is often used to treat back pain from spinal stenosis which occurs when the soft tissues between the vertebras flatten out. Unfortunately, spinal fusion can cause life-threatening complications, and those who undergo less invasive surgery are much more likely to experience better results. Therapy can also help those suffering from this condition to avoid the pain.
Patients should also avoid the commonly recommended hysterectomy for uterine fibroids. About 600,000 American women agree to hysterectomies even though many of these surgeries are necessary. This is only critical if a person has cancer, but many patients undergo the procedure due to quality-of-life concerns. The complications of a hysterectomy are common and the risks are very high. Instead, individuals who are recommended to have this surgery should look at other alternatives.
Lastly, many older Americans are encouraged to get knee arthroscopy if they suffer from osteoarthritis. This is a procedure where the doctor will repair torn or aging cartilage. Studies show that the operation only works well when patients have torn tissues in their meniscus. It is no more successful than other methods which will treat the osteoarthritis in the knee.
A 2008 study claims that 178 patients with osteoarthritis received physical or medical therapy without surgery or therapy post-surgery, and both groups had identical health outcomes. Whenever you are compelled to undergo a serious surgery, it is important to get multiple opinions. It is also essential for you to seek compensation for your injures in the event that you are harmed by one of these risky methods. Contact a local medical malpractice attorney today if you want to learn more!