LAC 48:I.2341. Vascular Surgery

NOTE: Itemization of the procedures and risks under a particular specialty does not preclude other qualified practitioners from using those risks identified for that particular procedure. A. Carotid Endarterectomy 1. thrombosis of repair (clotting); 2. bleeding/hematoma (accumulation of blood), requiring reoperation; 3. infection; 4. transient or permanent stroke; 5. nerve injury causing asymmetry of mouth, swallowing difficulty, hoarseness, weakness/atrophy and numbness of the tongue; 6. myocardial infarction (heart attack); 7. death. B. Aortic Graft for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm or Occlusive Disease 1. bleeding/hematoma (accumulation of blood), requiring reoperation; 2. infection of graft; 3. thrombosis or emboli; 4. limb loss; 5. kidney failure requiring dialysis; 6. ischemia of bowel (inadequate blood supply) with resulting loss of bowel; 7. ischemia of spinal cord (inadequate blood supply) with resulting paraplegia (paralysis of both legs); 8. myocardial infarction (heart attack); 9. death; 10. sexual dysfunction in male, including infertility; 11. temporary dependency on a breathing machine (ventilator). C. Arteriovenous Shunt for Hemodialysis (Artery Vein Fistula or Synthetic Graft) 1. bleeding/hematoma (accumulation of blood), requiring reoperation; 2. infection; 3. false aneurysm (damaged blood vessel with swelling and risk of rupture); 4. recurrent thrombosis (clot); 5. severe edema of extremity (swelling); 6. inadequate blood supply to extremity; 7. inadequate blood supply to nerves with resulting paralysis. D. Femoral, Popliteal or Tibial Bypass Grafts 1. bleeding/hematoma (accumulation of blood), requiring reoperation; 2. necrosis (death) of skin around the incision with delayed healing; 3. thrombi (clot); 4. emboli (moving clot)early or late; 5. limb loss; 6. nerve damage with permanent numbness/weakness; 7. early or late thrombosis (late clotting) requiring reoperation; 8. infection; 9. myocardial infarction (heart attack); 10. death. E. Lumbar Sympathectomy 1. injury to major artery/vein; 2. bleeding/hematoma (accumulation of blood), requiring reoperation; 3. injury to nerves (genitofemoral) with resulting numbness in groin and genital area; 4. sexual dysfunction in male with resulting numbness, impotence and infertility; 5. emboli (moving clots). F. Thoracic Sympathectomy by Thoracotomy or Thoracoscopy or Cervical Dorsal Sympathectomy 1. Horner's Syndrome (drooping eyelids and constricted pupil). 2. Injury to blood vessel. 3. Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) with bleeding. 4. Infection/empyema (pus collection in chest).