According to data collected by Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), there are more than 17,000 anesthesiology errors that occur in the U.S. each year. Many of these incidents result in harm to the patient, leading to medical malpractice lawsuits.
At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, our experienced medical malpractice attorneys have successfully handled cases where anesthesiology errors led to severe harm. If you or a loved one has suffered from a surgical error such as a cut, nicked, or perforated bowel, it’s crucial to seek legal advice as soon as possible. Contact our office for a free consultation at 833-997-1774 to learn more about your legal options and how we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
What Are the Most Common Types of Anesthesia Errors Leading to Malpractice Cases?
Anesthesia errors in medical malpractice cases typically stem from preventable mistakes during preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative care. Common types include dosage errors, failure to monitor vital signs, and miscommunication among medical teams. Dosage errors can result in either administering too much anesthesia, leading to overdose or prolonged unconsciousness, or too little, causing the patient to wake up during the procedure.
Failure to monitor a patient’s vital signs during surgery can lead to undetected complications such as hypoxia or cardiac arrest. Miscommunication, such as failing to relay critical patient information (e.g., allergies or pre-existing conditions), often exacerbates these errors. Each of these scenarios significantly increases the risk of harm, forming the basis for many anesthesia-related malpractice claims.
How Do Preoperative Anesthesia Errors Occur?
Preoperative errors often arise from inadequate patient evaluation. An anesthesiologist must thoroughly review the patient’s medical history, including allergies, medications, and prior anesthesia experiences. Failing to perform a detailed assessment can lead to catastrophic outcomes. For instance, undiagnosed conditions like obstructive sleep apnea or heart disease can significantly increase risks during surgery.
Another frequent issue is improper patient preparation. This includes not advising patients on when to stop eating or drinking before surgery or neglecting to adjust medication schedules. Preoperative negligence may result in aspiration, where stomach contents enter the lungs, or complications from unmanaged medical conditions. These errors reflect lapses in the critical planning phase of anesthesia care.
What Are the Risks of Intraoperative Anesthesia Errors?
Errors during the surgery itself, known as intraoperative errors, can be particularly dangerous. A common mistake is the improper administration of anesthesia, which includes using the wrong drug, incorrect dosages, or failure to adjust the dosage during prolonged surgeries. Inadequate anesthesia can result in awareness during surgery, causing psychological trauma, while excessive anesthesia may lead to respiratory depression or even death.
Failure to monitor the patient’s vital signs in real time is a critical intraoperative error. Anesthesiologists must continually track oxygen levels, blood pressure, heart rate, and other metrics to identify and respond to complications immediately. Equipment malfunction, such as ventilators or monitors failing, can further complicate matters if not promptly addressed. These oversights are central to many malpractice cases involving intraoperative anesthesia errors.
How Do Postoperative Anesthesia Errors Impact Patients?
Postoperative anesthesia errors primarily involve inadequate monitoring or delayed recognition of complications as patients recover from anesthesia. One common issue is respiratory depression, where a patient’s breathing becomes dangerously slow due to the residual effects of anesthesia. If not addressed promptly, this can lead to brain damage or death.
Another frequent error is unrecognized nerve damage, which can occur from improper positioning during surgery while under anesthesia. If such issues are not identified and treated quickly, patients might experience numbness, weakness, or chronic pain. Postoperative negligence also includes failing to manage pain effectively or dismissing symptoms that indicate complications, such as infections or blood clots. These errors not only prolong recovery but also expose healthcare providers to legal liability.
Contact Our Medical Malpractice Law Firm for a Free Consultation
If you believe an anesthesiologist’s mistake has caused you harm, it is critical to act quickly. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, our medical malpractice attorneys represent victims of surgical errors and medical negligence. We offer free, confidential consultations and represent clients on a contingency-fee-basis—meaning you won’t pay any legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact our office today at 833-997-1774 to schedule your free consultation with a doctor malpractice lawyer and let us help you understand your legal options.