Interested in working with us? Call us on 703.591.0067 or fill out this quick form and we will contact you within 24 hours!

5 Common Ways Anesthesia Can Cause Injury in Virginia Hospitals

Few things are more frightening than a surgical procedure. The thought of being "under the knife" chills most patients, many of whom are scared they won't make it out of the procedure alive.

But what if you discovered that the surgery itself wasn't nearly as risky as being put unconscious?

Suffering after medical malpractice in DC? Order our FREE book: Do I Have A Case? A Patient's Guide to Virginia Medical Negligence Law.

Anesthesia error is an all-too-common type of surgical mistake in Virginia. It may seem like a necessary evil; after all, any extensive procedure requires that the patient be unconscious so as not to feel any pain.

The problem is when anesthesia is improperly administered, resulting in life-changing-and potentially fatal-consequences.

The most frequent kinds of anesthesia errors in DC include:

Dosage errors. Anesthesiologists must check dosages carefully before administering, since an overdose can commonly result in coma. Too little anesthetic is just as dangerous, often resulting in a case of DC anesthesia awareness-a state where the patient is conscious during surgery.
Improper monitoring. The anesthesiologist must carefully monitor the patient's state throughout surgery, checking the patient's pulse rate and other vital signs for any physical signs of breathing complications or distress.
Lack of presence. While surgeons and nurses may move about the operating room at will, the anesthesiologist has a duty to remain at the head of the patient's bed, as this is the primary location to sense complications. Moving away from this area for even a second can cause a patient precious oxygen loss.
Communication errors. A missed line on a patient's medical history or a moved decimal point on his chart can have catastrophic consequences. Unfortunately, a communication breakdown can happen anywhere-on paper, between the surgeon and anesthetist-even between the team and the patient.
Drug or alcohol use in the surgical team. Care providers are just as human as their patients. However, since they often hold life and death in their hands, they must be held to a higher standard.

A common side effect of anesthesia error is asphyxia, or lack of oxygen. As experienced Fairfax medical malpractice attorneys, we know the risks that these helpless patients face when the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off: stroke, paralysis, birth defects, brain damage, coma or even death.

If you are undergoing surgery, you deserve the care of experienced, competent staff. If you suffered as a result of surgical error in DC, we can hold doctors accountable for your injury. Call Shevlin Smith today at (703) 591-0067 for a free consultation in your Virginia medical malpractice case.