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3 common anesthesia errors

On Behalf of | Jun 5, 2018 | Medical Malpractice

Going under the knife can be stressful and emotionally taxing, but it can prove even ore so if you or one of your Louisiana loved ones also has to undergo treatment using anesthesia. Regrettably, medical errors involving anesthesia are not uncommon, but the repercussions of anesthesia errors can prove gravely serious and even potentially life-threatening. At Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates, we understand that serious hardship often results from anesthesia mistakes, and we have helped many victims of anesthesia errors and their families pursue appropriate recourse.

According to Elcam Medical, most patients who suffer injury or hardship because of anesthesia do so because of similar situations and circumstances. For instance, many medical errors could likely be avoidable if anesthesiologists were able to better control the flow of intravenous fluids. If an anesthesiologist administers too little of an anesthetic, for example, it may not have its intended effect, leaving a patient able to feel pain during a procedure. On the other hand, if an anesthesiologist administers too much of an anesthetic, it can cause hypertension, respiratory issues, anxiety and other side effects.

Anesthesia errors can also result from an accidental administration of residual anesthetics, and some safety experts believe that this type of occurrence is more common among children. This can happen when infection, for example, gets stuck in the dead space of a stopcock, which is the valve used to control the flow of the anesthetic.

Medical professionals also sometimes make errors when it comes to controlling patient pain after certain procedures. If your physician fails to time your pain treatment properly, for example, it can lead to nausea, vomiting and chronic regional pain, among other potential side effects. Find out more about medical malpractice on our web page.