An anesthesiologist plays a vital role during surgery, administering proper anesthesia doses to help manage a patient’s pain. Although anesthesiologists are board-certified, that does not make them immune to mistakes. An anesthesia mistake can be among the most serious, impacting a patient’s ability to live a normal life. While some of these errors may be unavoidable, others are completely preventable.
Our legal team has over 30 years of experience representing clients who have fallen victim to medical malpractice in Harrisburg, PA, and the surrounding area. We understand the toll an anesthesiologist’s mistake can have on your health and general well-being.
Our medical malpractice attorneys know what evidence to look for in proving an anesthesiologist’s mistake. If you have had the misfortune of being the subject of an anesthesia error, you must speak with our Pennsylvania anesthesia mistakes lawyer
Common Examples of Anesthesia Mistakes
During surgery, an anesthesiologist holds your life in their hands. The most common examples of anesthesia errors include:
Administering the Wrong Drug
An anesthesiologist is responsible for getting an accurate patient history before surgery. In some cases, an anesthesiologist may not do their due diligence, resulting in administering a medication that the patient is allergic to, which can result in devastating consequences.
Errors in Intubating or Extubating
Intubating and extubating a patient is an intricate process requiring the knowledge of a highly skilled physician. Since a patient’s diaphragm is paralyzed during general anesthesia, an anesthesiologist will insert an endotracheal tube (ETT) into the trachea. The ET tube ensures that you are being properly oxygenated. You will be extubated at the end of your procedure (the ETT will be removed).
However, there are certain risks associated with placing an ETT. If a physician does not place the tube correctly, such as in one of the bronchi of the lungs or the esophagus, this can cause further complications. Additionally, if an intubation is unsuccessful, a patient may be deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period, resulting in brain damage.
Improper Monitoring of Vital Signs
An anesthesiologist monitors a patient’s heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and all vital signs during surgery. If an anesthesiologist gets distracted or misses a problem, this can result in irreversible damage.
Aspiration
If you have ever undergone surgery, you likely have been required to stop eating and drinking fluids the night before. This surgical requirement is part of aspiration prevention. Aspiration occurs when you breathe your stomach contents into your airway. It is a potential risk when a patient is placed under general anesthesia. Studies have shown that almost half of all patients who aspirate during surgery suffer lung problems and pneumonia. If a physician does not intervene in time, a patient may die.
Intraoperative Awareness
Properly monitoring a patient’s vital signs ensures that a patient remains unconscious during surgery. However, a rare complication, intraoperative awareness (also known as anesthesia awareness), occurs when a patient “wakes up” while under general anesthesia. In some cases, a patient may be able to hear conversations, feel pressure, or have other brief moments of consciousness. This is most often the result of an improper dosage of anesthetic drugs being administered.
Our Pennsylvania Anesthesia Mistakes Lawyer is Here for You
When you have surgery, you trust competent medical professionals. While inexcusable, anesthesiologists can and do make mistakes. If you have experienced an anesthesia error, we want to hear from you. To schedule your consultation, call (717) 678-7893 or fill out our online contact form.