Latest news with #internalBleeding
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I had a common surgery performed on 300,000 people a year and suffered a deadly complication
A man who went in for a routine surgery performed on more than 300,000 Americans a year almost died after suffering a rare complication that resulted in life-threatening internal bleeding. The unnamed 65-year-old had been suffering from gangrenous appendicitis, a condition similar to acute appendicitis but with more severe symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. He underwent a routine operation to remove the organ, which is thought to play a role in the immune system. Shortly after the surgery, the patient experienced chest pain and started coughing up blood. The man's levels of hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body) dropped below the normal low limit to 13.2 g/dL. Further tests looking at the man's blood vessels and airways within his lungs revealed an area blocked with medical glue, which is sometimes used to close surgical wounds. However, in extremely rare cases, glue can enter the bloodstream and travel to the lungs with this complication known as 'glue embolism'. In the case report, doctors wrote the glue formed a blockage that caused blood to fill the man's chest cavity, in what doctors believe is the first-of-its-kind case. Glue embolism has a reported incidence of 0.5 percent to 4.3 percent, with its risk depending on the amount of glue used and the speed at which a substance is introduced into a system. If medical glue gets into the bloodstream, it can cause the pulmonary arteries carrying blood from the heart to the lungs to become blocked. In the male patient's case, the blockage was causing the space between his lungs and chest wall - the pleural cavity - to fill with blood. Bleeding into the pleural cavity (hemothorax) can be fatal, especially if the bleeding is severe or if the condition is not promptly treated. In some cases it can lead to the lungs collapsing. Scar tissue (adhesions) had also started forming between his organs and tissues, as a result of inflammation. This can lead to numerous complications including breathing difficulties, chest pain, and decreased lung function. The anonymous patient was diagnosed withpost-appendectomy hemomediastinum and authors on the man's case believe this is the first reported incidence of such a complication. As a result, he had to undergo another surgery where doctors made an incision through his chest wall to treat his lungs and the surrounding area. During the operation they drained blood that had leaked from blood vessels and they removed any scar tissue. In a report written by a team of surgeons from the Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, they confirmed that the patient's condition stabilized following surgery. He was then discharged in a 'good condition' 10 days later. In the report, they note that the patient did have a number of health complaints prior to the incident. He had a history of interstitial lung disease, a progressive condition that occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred, what's known as fibrosis. But his condition took a sharp decline following the removal of his appendix. The team from Mayo Clinic note that spontaneous internal bleeding, particularly following an appendectomy, is 'extremely uncommon and not typically associated with such procedures'. However, they state that the case 'emphasizes the importance of early identification and timely intervention in managing this complication' as it could prove fatal.
CBC
17-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
E-scooter injuries on the rise, especially among youth in Canada
Hospitalizations from scooter-related injuries are up across Canada, according to new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Nearly half involved electric scooters, which were up 32 per cent from the previous year. Scooter injuries can be severe, including brain trauma and internal bleeding. Read more:
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Six-year-old died from ‘catastrophic' internal bleeding after routine procedure went wrong
A six-year-old girl died from "catastrophic internal bleeding" after a routine bone marrow biopsy went wrong. Now, her father is welcoming new safety measures announced in her name to spare others the same fate. Amelia Ridout had been diagnosed with suspected pancytopenia, a condition characterised by a reduction in the three main types of blood cells. She underwent the bone marrow biopsy under general anaesthetic on 16 June 2022 at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. According to the Prevention of Future Deaths report into the case, the doctor performing the biopsy observed a spurt of blood upon removing the needle. However, they were reportedly assured by a consultant that there were no signs warranting concern. Shortly afterwards, Amelia's pulse was lost and medics tried to save her life. It was assumed that she was suffering an internal bleed as a result of the procedure and immediate surgery was needed, but she died on the operating table. The coroner investigating Amelia's death, Elizabeth Gray, said the girl died after the biopsy needle accidentally pierced blood vessels causing 'massive, catastrophic bleeding internally'. She said there should be national guidelines and standard operating procedure for this type of biopsy. Now the British Society for Haematology (BSH) has confirmed it will develop a universal method that brings the practises around bone marrow biopsies in line with today's standards. It will be called Millie's Method in tribute to Amelia. It will also make recommendations for the training of staff conducting the procedure and develop a competency assessment. BSH also said it will also explore the possibility of developing a registry of complications to inform future guidelines. Amelia's father Matt Ridout said: 'We will never get Amelia back – but now her name will stand for change. 'Millie's Method will be a permanent reminder to every clinician, every trust, and every patient that safety must never be assumed – it must be guaranteed. 'No parent should ever be left wondering whether their child's life could have been saved by a better process. 'I'm grateful to the British Society for Haematology for taking this seriously and for honouring my daughter with real steps toward change.'
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Ozempic linked to terrifying eye-bleeding disorder that turns patients blind
Ozempic has been linked to a potentially blinding condition that causes internal bleeding behind the eyes. An Israeli study found patients taking Ozempic or similar weight-loss shots were twice as likely to suffer from a serious degenerative eye disease compared to those not on the medication. Your browser does not support iframes.
