Anesthesia has helped make surgery bearable for people and is one of the great medical advances in history. Nevertheless, administering anesthetics properly is complicated, and plenty of mistakes can be made in the operating room, leading to devastating injuries and sometimes even the death of a loved one.
Elcam has published a list of 5 critical anesthesia mistakes to watch out for. If you or a loved one has been injured in a surgical mishap, contact a Miami medical malpractice attorney today.
Dosage Errors
Staff can sometimes deliver too little or too much anesthesia. Common reasons for these dosage errors include lack of familiarity with the equipment, insufficient experience, or carelessness. Dosage errors tend to occur in the middle of anesthesia.
Failure to Control IV Flow Rate
Improper flow rate can cause many complications for patients. For example, overload can lead to anxiety, high blood pressure, and breathing problems. If the flow rate is too slow, then a patient will not react to the drug as expected.
Post-Op Pain Management Errors
Managing pain does not end when the patient leaves the operating room. Professionals must also try to manage pain after the operation, but some have struggled to do so. Poor timing when it comes to administering medication can lead to vomiting and chronic regional pain syndrome. Fortunately, hospitals are now using more regional anesthesia, which has fewer side effects.
Administration of Residual Anesthetics
There is a risk of accidentally flushing drugs through the IV at the end of anesthesia. For example, a neuromuscular blocking drug could be administered when the intravenous line is flushed, possibly leading to cardiac arrest. The risk is increased with children.
Mistakes with Documentation
Documentation errors are some of the most common errors and impede the accurate billing of services. For example, a patient’s anesthesia record might be filled out before surgery is even completed, which can lead to inaccurate information on the report. In some situations, patients end up paying much more for anesthesia than they should have.
Injured in Surgery? Contact Us
Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein has practiced in this area of law for decades. We will work to fully document the injuries and financial losses you have suffered because of the anesthesiologist’s errors.
Please contact us today. One of our Miami medical malpractice attorneys will review your patient history and discuss whether you have a valid claim for compensation. Call 305-371-2692 for more information.