Anthony Geary, the eight-time Daytime Emmy winner best known for his role as Luke Spencer on the long-running soap opera General Hospital, died at 78 from complications related to a medical procedure.
According to NPR, Geary died as a result of complications stemming from a surgical procedure performed three days earlier.
Per Cureus, Studies show that surgical complications affect roughly 22% to over 40% of patients, depending on the procedure and patient health. Risks are higher for older adults, people with chronic conditions, higher body weight, and those undergoing major or emergency surgeries.
The most common complications include:
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Infections, such as surgical site infections, pneumonia, and UTIs
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Breathing problems, including pneumonia or respiratory failure
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Heart and circulation issues, like heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots
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Wound problems, such as bleeding or slow healing
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Other issues, including pain, nausea, kidney injury, sepsis, and bowel problems
Risk also depends on the type of surgery. Cardiac and upper gastrointestinal surgeries tend to carry higher complication rates, while procedures like orthopedic or breast surgery generally have lower risks.