Injuries from Anesthesia Errors in Virginia

How Many Patients Die from Anesthesia Errors?

Going under anesthetic is much safer than in the 1940s when as many as 640 people per million died. However, recent evidence suggests the death toll is rising.

An article in Time detailed a report in Deutsches Ärzteblatt, the German Medical Association’s official international science journal. It found after many decades of decline, the global death rate during anesthesia is rising again, to about seven patients in every million.

The article pointed to an alarmingly high rate of deaths in older patients within a year after a general anesthesia with as many as one in 10 dying. The article warned of a decrease in the overall quality of anesthesiological care.

A 2009 study by the medical journal Anesthesiology found anesthesia mistakes are linked to about 34 deaths in the United States annually and are a contributing factor to more than 275 other patient deaths. Human error is a factor in up to 87 percent of cases.

There are a number of types of anesthesia errors in hospitals. Some of the more common ones include:

1 Anesthesia overdose

It’s important to know the side-effects and impacts of an anesthesia overdose that can indicate medical malpractice has occurred. These include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Dementia
• Breathing problems
• Hypothermia
• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Mental or physical impairment
• Prolonged periods of unconsciousness
• Traumatic brain injury
• Death

Even patients who received a local anesthetic for minor surgery can suffer from side effects of an anesthesia overdose or a dangerous or deadly reaction to the anesthesia. There have been well-documented cases in Virginia of children who died under anesthesia administered by dentists.

Not all side effects of an anesthesia overdose are temporary. Some people suffer long-term complications. Studies referenced in the journal Scientific American indicate higher dosages of anesthesia lead to an increased risk of delirium post-surgery.

2 Failure to Properly Monitor Patients

The failure to monitor patients correctly during surgery can lead to serious or fatal mistakes in the operating room. The anesthesiologist is responsible for regulating a patient’s level of consciousness during procedures as well as oxygen levels. Failure to monitor can result in serious brain injury or death.

3 Administering Too Little Anesthesia

Although overdoes are among the most common anesthesia errors, administering too little anesthesia can also have horrific consequences.

The level of anesthesia given to a patient is based on body weight, gender and age. Too little anesthesia can lead to a terrifying experience during a surgical procedure in which the patient wakes up but is paralyzed and unable to speak. The patient feels the extreme pain of the procedure but cannot understand what is happening. This kind of anesthesia error can result in extreme psychological trauma.

4 Failure to Correctly Intubate

The anesthesiologist must intubate the patient during surgery to allow breathing. This is crucial because a failure to maintain proper airflow to the patient can result in brain injury or even death. Ensuring proper breathing is a meticulous process. Anesthesiologists may cause injuries during intubation by failing to take adequate care.

5 Failure to Research a Patient’s Medical History

Medical professionals must check records to establish whether a patient is allergic or will have a reaction to a certain drugs used during anesthesia.