Problems After Breast Lumpectomy

[bradfordvero]

My pathology report was fat necrosis.  The area did not heal well and I had a second surgery two weeks later to remove the large area of black crusted scab.  This was done in the doctor's office.  The doctor feels that I either had a bad reaction to the bovie during surgery or a reaction to the steri strips.  My skin was blistered under the steri strips.  It then slowly turned black (about 1.5" diameter) and had a large red ring around it.  My doctor said it was not infected.  When the second surgery was done, I had probems.  The anesthesia worked initially, then during surgery it stopped working.  Yes, it stopped.  I had to indure the pain of the cutting and suturing (16 in all).  He used 2 bottles and no luck with the anesthesia.  I also had massive bleeding all over the room.  He kept asking if I was on blood thinners or aspirin or motrin.  I did not take any.  I told the doctor that I felt like I had surgery in the jungle.  I am sure he did not appreciate my comment, but I did not care at this point.  I know he felt badly about what had happened and wished he had performed the surgery in the hospital.  I have been through so much in my life but have never experienced such unbelievable pain.  Why did this happen?  Has this happened to anyone else?  

[Ekena]

A related discussion, Lumpectomy/biopsy site won't heal was started.

[DrBhumikaMD]

Hi,
You are thinking very rationally now, and this is the right approach. When you meet the doctor for suture removal ask him about what he thinks - about the wound healing and what went wrong and whether you will have to be carefule before any future surgery.
Was a coagulation profile ( it's a blood test) done before the surgery? If not, i would suggest to get one done. It just tells you about the clotting ability of one's blood and how much time the body would take to stop bleeding from a particular site.
Also, you are lucky to have the best doctors available to you and above all they having a rapport with you and understanding you.
Good luck for the appointment.

[bradfordvero]

Thanks for your kind words.  The wound does look like it is healing this time.  I will see the doctor on the 31st for suture removal.  I do not fault him for what happened, I know by now that things just happen and we never know why.  He is one of the best surgeons in my area and I would trust him again.  I know things were out of his control and he did all he could and then some.  I will talk to him about what I said, although I think he understood my "mood" at the moment.  I just wish I did know what and why so that if in the future I need surgery or anesthesia, I would know what and why it happened so that it did not happen again.

[DrBhumikaMD]

Hi,
It is indeed very sad to hear about what you have been through. There is no absolute and definitive explanation for why and how did thiis happen.
The thing that you need to understand is your doctor was trying his best to make the procedure painless - but the anaesthesia did not do you any good and to make it a short procedure - OPD procedure so that you could go home quickly and have an early recovery - but this also did not turn as planned.
It does happen in some cases, though rarely, that the anesthesia does not take full effect and also the surgical procedure cannot be abandoned midway. Also the bleeding could be due to a vessel injury or blood collection at the site. The doctor kept asking about the medications you were on, so that a cause could be established or corrective measures instituted.
If the event could have been foreseen, the doctor would have planned accordingly. But there are quite a few things which happen and have to be accepted without an explanation.
What is most important is you do not lose your rapport with your doctor and that your wound heals well. Go for a regular follow up and if you feel comfortable talk to him about what you said while having the surgery.
This wound should surely heal well - hope for the best.
Good luck.

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
I'm so sorry to hear your ordeal.  
I'm pretty sure your surgeon won't mind your comment.
Just like in any surgical procedure, there are risks involved.  Post operative complications like infection, wound dehiscence sometimes happen.  These should be explained before the surgery, and before signing the consent for surgery.
I do hope your surgical wound heals well this time without any complications.
Good luck.