That a surgeon would leave something in your body sounds like something you hear only on investigative news shows. But it happens—and more often than you probably think.
If you’ve undergone recent surgery, learning more about potential warning signs of a foreign object is crucial. You want to know these signs and seek additional medical treatment before it becomes a life-threatening condition.
The type of objects left in the body after surgery can vary widely.
If you suspect you have a foreign object left in your body after surgery, contact a skilled medical malpractice lawyer at Poulos & Coates today.
Key Takeaways
We can help you get treatment and pursue compensation against the responsible parties. Read on to learn more about recognizing potential symptoms of objects and instruments left in patients after surgery.
- Recognize the Symptoms. If you experience severe pain, swelling, fever, or unexplained health declines after surgery, a retained surgical object could be the cause. Symptoms may appear immediately or develop over time.
- Seek Prompt Medical Attention. Left-behind surgical tools or sponges can lead to infections, organ damage, and life-threatening complications. Seeking prompt medical attention is crucial to avoid long-term harm.
- Legal Options for Victims. If a surgeon left a foreign object in your body, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim. A skilled attorney can help you pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
We are here to help you understand your options and how to move forward.
Warning Signs of Objects Left in a Body After Surgery
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.
There’s a risk of death with some foreign objects, so it’s crucial to understand what to look for after surgery. Signs include:
- Trouble urinating;
- Constipation;
- Bloody, black, or tar-like stools;
- Tenderness or swelling near the surgical site;
- Fever;
- Severe and recurring headaches;
- Severe pain around or near the surgical site;
- Coughing up or vomiting blood;
- Seepage near the surgical site;
- Severe pain in your leg;
- Difficulty with basic bodily functions such as eating, breathing, and swallowing;
- Unexplained weight loss;
- Swollen lymph nodes;
- Streaks near the incision;
- Numbness in the feet or hands;
- Unpleasant odor coming from the incision site;
- Difficulty keeping liquids or food down, even if you’re hungry;
- Abscess or fistula forming; and
- An overall decline in your health.
If you have any symptoms following surgery, please immediately speak with a doctor. The longer you wait, the higher the risk of complications.
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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.
What Are the Risks of a Surgical Instrument Left Inside a Patient?
Post-surgery, if a foreign object (like a surgical sponge) is unintentionally left inside a patient’s body, it can lead to long-term issues. These objects might trigger aseptic inflammation or exudation without an infection, causing persistent pain or discomfort over months or years.
Metal Left in Body After Surgery
A retained object, such as a metal clip left in the body after surgery, is medical malpractice. Retained objects cause serious complications, including infection, organ damage, and chronic pain.
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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.
Can You File a Lawsuit Against the Responsible Parties?
Yes, but filing a foreign object left in the body after a surgery lawsuit is complicated. You need a skilled lawyer on your side who can walk you through the process and protect your rights. You have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and other damages. If your case is successful, you can receive compensation for the following:
- Your medical expenses;
- Future expected medical costs;
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity;
- Pain and suffering; and
- Mental anguish.
Your attorney will help you calculate your potential case value and let you know what damages you’re eligible to receive.
Why 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 & Coates can help ensure that every step you take supports both your health and your potential case.
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 & Coates to explore your options. You deserve answers and justice.
Pursuing legal action for a retained surgical body is essential. You need to hold the responsible parties accountable to ensure no one else is harmed by their negligence.
You likely need additional surgery to have the foreign body removed too. The surgeon malpractice lawyers at Poulos & Coates specializes in medical malpractice lawsuits.
We have the legal expertise and resources to help you pursue maximum compensation against the defendants. Contact our Las Cruces office today to schedule an initial consultation to learn more about how we can assist you.
Where to find our Las Cruces, NM office:
Greig Coates, M.D., J.D.
Over the last thirty years, Dr. Coates has successfully represented plaintiffs in every conceivable type of medical malpractice lawsuit–from single-physician cases to complex litigation involving over a dozen doctors and several hospitals. Dr. Coates has taken several thousand physician depositions in his career involving every known physician specialty and sub-specialty, and almost as many depositions involving hospital personnel such as nurses, techs, and administrators. He has tried several dozen cases to successful verdicts.
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