When Anesthesia Harms People: Tennessee Medical Malpractice

By Thomas Greer | January 24, 2015

No one wants to undergo surgery, but sometimes there is no way around it. So, we go into the operating room expecting that everything will go well. But sometimes, medical mistakes are made and great pain and suffering can be the result.

Anesthesia complications are one type of medical mishap that can end in injury and even death. No medical procedure is without risk, and the use of anesthesia to avoid pain for patients is no exception. You are at greater risk if you:

  • Have a medical condition like heart problems or poor circulation.
  • Are older. Risk rises with age.
  • Respond to anesthesia differently from other people.
  • You smoke, drink or use illegal drugs.

Most anesthesia specialists take these risk factors into consideration and usually everything goes fine. But there are some common side effects and complications that can happen with the use of anesthesia. Here are some of them:

Local Anesthesia: High doses can be toxic, be absorbed into the bloodstream and result in systemic toxicity. This can affect your bodily functions including blood pressure, heartbeat and breathing. It is the duty of your health care provider to be prepared for this emergency, with the proper equipment ready to use.
Regional Anesthesia: This includes epidural, spinal and nerve blocks. Nerve damage, numbness, pain and systemic toxicity are all possible complications.

  • General Anesthesia: This method causes the throat reflexes to suspend, which can cause aspiration of an object or liquid into the windpipe. For this reason, a “breathing tube” may be inserted to keep the airways clear, but this can cause increased blood pressure and rapid heart rate. Heart attack and stroke are rare complications. Also, some patients actually become aware during surgery, allowing them to feel and hear what is going on.
  • Anesthetic Medications: The medications commonly used in anesthesia can also cause complications for some patients. Allergic reactions and a type of hyperthermia also can happen.

If you became injured by the use of anesthetics in your Tennessee surgical procedure, you may wonder if this could have been avoided. Were you given the correct amount? Did the medical staff react appropriately to your distress? Don’t just “let it go”.

Contact a Middle Tennessee medical malpractice lawyer if you have any questions. At Bailey & Greer, we can help you sort out the facts and make the right decisions about your case. Call us toll-free at 901-680-9777 today and discover your legal patient rights.

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