Surgical Complications
Would love input on the following scenario:
Pt. with previous thoracotomy for right middle lobe NSC lung cancer. Surveillance reveals right lower lobe nodule, cancer suspected. Very difficult thoracotomy surgery due to extensive adhesions and lysis. Numerous air leaks. The nodule was removed by segmentectomy. A lobectomy was attempted and a rib fracture was noted during the approach. The fracture portion was excised and actually ended up with better approach. The lobectomy ended up being aborted. Another rib fracture was noted at the end of the procedure before closing and this was sutured. MD says case was very complicated and took over 5 hours with the complexity and length well over 50% of what was expected. He says no complications.
My question: Does his statement of "no complications" prohibit me from querying for clarification of whether the rib fractures/air leaks are incidental occurences inherent in the surgical procedure or complications of procedure?
Pt. with previous thoracotomy for right middle lobe NSC lung cancer. Surveillance reveals right lower lobe nodule, cancer suspected. Very difficult thoracotomy surgery due to extensive adhesions and lysis. Numerous air leaks. The nodule was removed by segmentectomy. A lobectomy was attempted and a rib fracture was noted during the approach. The fracture portion was excised and actually ended up with better approach. The lobectomy ended up being aborted. Another rib fracture was noted at the end of the procedure before closing and this was sutured. MD says case was very complicated and took over 5 hours with the complexity and length well over 50% of what was expected. He says no complications.
My question: Does his statement of "no complications" prohibit me from querying for clarification of whether the rib fractures/air leaks are incidental occurences inherent in the surgical procedure or complications of procedure?