Anesthesia is a medication given to prevent patients from feeling pain during surgery or other medical procedures. It is typically administered by a licensed anesthesiologist and may be given locally or regionally to numb a specific area, or administered generally to induce unconsciousness.
Anesthesia can be dangerous if not administered properly. It is crucial for a medical provider to conduct a health assessment before administering anesthesia to learn about any medical conditions a patient may have, medications they are using, and any patient or family history involving adverse reactions to anesthesia. Providing pre- and post-operative instructions to the patient is key.
The amount of anesthesia required for general anesthesia surgery varies widely from patient to patient and it is important to get it right. Administering the correct amount of anesthesia requires that a physician anesthesiologist has extensive knowledge of anesthesia and understands the human body, monitoring for vital functions to prevent problems.
Anesthesia errors are not relegated to surgeries in hospitals, but can occur during outpatient procedures, including dental sedation. Most risks associated with anesthesia are minor and temporary, but sometimes more serious problems occur including breathing problems during or after a procedure or, in cases where too much anesthesia is administered, strokes, traumatic brain injury, or even death can occur.
The most common anesthesia errors include administering too little or too much anesthesia, failure to recognize adverse reactions, failure to provide proper instructions to a patient prior to and after a surgery, failure to monitor a patient during surgery, or using defective equipment. The majority of medical negligence lawsuits related to anesthesia result from injuries involving dental, surgical, or neurological complications, airway mishaps, cardiac arrest, overdose or infection suffered by surgical, dental and obstetric patients.
When you or a family member has been injured due to a preventable anesthesia error, contact Des Moines Iowa Anesthesiologist Malpractice Lawyer Marc Humphrey. Attorney Humphrey is considered by his peers as one of the top Medical Malpractice attorneys in the entire state. He brings over three decades of experience and knowledge in holding doctors and hospitals accountable for negligence. Humphrey Law Firm offers a free consultation and case evaluation and we answer calls anytime, day or night, at 515-331-3510.
