Iatrogenic damage

Iatrogenic means caused by a doctor (in the broader sense of the word, also another health professional), his intervention or his intervention.

Causes of iatrogenic damage

 * Incorrect surgical procedure, approach or inappropriate behavior (non-observance of sterility);
 * wrong prescription of medicine;
 * consequence of adverse effects of (properly prescribed) medicine (e.g. antibiotics);
 * incorrect surgical (or other) procedure, approach or inappropriate behavior (burnout syndrome);
 * wrong diagnosis;
 * failure to follow basic aseptic procedures.

Patients' health is most often harmed during medical procedures and operations. The reason is usually non-compliance with the basic conditions of asepsis, often due to the inconsistency of the medical staff. Of course there is disinfection, wound cleaning and a sterile operating field. Secondary postoperative infections occur.

For example: introducing an infectious agent into an open fracture can lead to the development of osteomyelitis, which is a serious complication and can lead to the death of the patient. In practice, we also encounter so-called iatrogenically caused pneumothorax. This is a relatively common complication when introducing a central venous catheter (for the application of drugs, measuring venous pressure, etc.) into the v. subclavian. Due to the anatomical conditions, a puncture may occur in the area of the cupula pleurae, which extends to the clavicle. The position of the catheter is then always checked under X-ray.

When we talk about iatrogenic damage, it doesn't always have to be just physical damage. The unprofessional approach of the doctor can also have an equally negative effect on the patient, often as a result of burnout syndrome. Insufficient interest, or downplaying of difficulties or rude behavior on the part of the doctor does not contribute to the patient's recovery.

Occurrence of iatrogenic damage

 * Iatrogenic pneumothorax.
 * Patients who have developed problems caused by prescribed drugs (mainly their side effects) or possible addictions to them.
 * Barbiturates and benzodiazepines - intended for the treatment of sleep disorders or anxiety disorders.
 * Patients addicted to opiates, prescribed by a doctor for pain (morphine, pentazocine, pethidine, tramadol).
 * Iatrogenic Creutzfeld-Jacob disease – appeared in patients treated with human growth hormone from cadaveric pituitary glands (today it is already prepared recombinantly), by transfer of the dura mater, pericardium or cornea. There is also a risk in neurosurgical procedures through transmission through instrumentation. Transmission of prions is apparently also possible through transfusion.

Related Articles

 * Pneumothorax
 * Meningitis purulenta – Pathogenesis
 * Mitral stenosis – iatrogenic stenosis after valvuloplasty
 * Subglottic stenosis
 * Iatrogenic Internal Injury
 * Causes of neutropenia
 * Iatrogenic Creutzfeld-Jacob disease