Severe anesthesia side effects could be a sign that your anesthesiologist ignored possible risk factors. A medical history omission, failure to test for allergies, and inadequate patient monitoring are red flags.
As many as 80% of anesthesia patients experience side effects, according to a study in The Open Public Health Journal. Side effects are usually not severe, so if you suffered from unusual or serious complications from anesthesia, you may have been the victim of medical malpractice.
The only way your anesthesia team can accurately identify the risks you face from anesthesia is a complete review of your medical history. Pre-operative screening failure is a major reason healthcare professionals miss pre-existing risk factors. The screening should include a discussion of:
If your pre-operative screening didn't include all of these topics and you suffered from serious anesthesia side effects, your healthcare provider may have been negligent.
Many different medications are used during anesthesia, and an allergic reaction to any of them is possible. Risk factors include:
Some of the most common allergy triggers during anesthesia are:
The anesthesiologist should go over the risk of having an allergic reaction with you before the procedure. If you have suspected risk factors, a skin allergy test can verify whether you have an allergic reaction. Failure to investigate possible allergies puts you at risk of symptoms including:
These symptoms can be life-threatening and require immediate treatment.
Patient monitoring is a critical task when anesthesia is in use. The medical team should be monitoring vital signs, such as:
High-risk patient monitoring is especially important. For example, if you have heart disease, general anesthesia could lower your blood pressure and slow your heart rate to dangerous levels. If you have sleep apnea, you may have trouble waking up and breathing after surgery.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists publishes standards for patient monitoring to promote quality care. The first recommendation is that qualified anesthesia personnel should be in the room with the patient throughout the time that anesthesia is in use. The absence of a certified anesthetist would be a red flag for negligence.
The standards recommend objective monitoring in most cases instead of more subjective observations. For example, equipment to measure how much carbon dioxide the patient exhales is preferable to trying to see the patient's chest moving up and down or listening for the sounds of breathing.
Improper monitoring could cause the medical team to overlook potential problems or side effects related to your pre-existing risk factors.
Pre-existing conditions can make some anesthesia side effects more likely to occur or more severe. If your medical team failed to anticipate these side effects, they may have ignored your risk factors. Anesthesia can cause a range of side effects, including:
Pre-existing risk factors impact these side effects in various ways. Lifestyle factors, like smoking cigarettes, make patients more likely to feel nauseous after anesthesia.
People with chipped or loose teeth are more likely to suffer dental damage from the breathing tube. Older adults and people with pre-existing cognitive impairment are more likely to have cognitive problems after general anesthesia.
Malignant hyperthermia is a genetic condition that causes the body to dangerously overheat under anesthesia. Muscles and organs can begin to break down. Examining your family history is critical to see whether you're at risk of having this condition.
Local anesthesia can cause hematomas, which develop when blood collects outside your veins or blood vessels. A hematoma can compress your spinal cord or form in critical areas like your brain. Your anesthesiologist should check for any medications you take that may cause bleeding to help avoid this side effect.
Factors that put you at a higher risk of complications from anesthesia include:
If you're a high-risk patient, your anesthesiologist should take steps to lower the risk factors as much as possible.
Anesthesia side effects usually don't last more than a few hours. If symptoms last longer than a day, you should contact your doctor.
Older adults may suffer from confusion and unclear thinking for days or weeks, though. Some people experience ongoing cognitive impairment after surgery.
Drug interaction errors can cause serious complications with anesthesia. The types of medication most likely to cause an interaction are:
If your anesthesiologist didn't ask about all the medications you take, you're more likely to have suffered from complications.
Anesthesia side effects can be frightening or even fatal. If you think your anesthesiologist didn't fully investigate your medical history or failed to provide adequate monitoring during your procedure, you could benefit from legal counsel.
At Cummings Law, founding attorney Brian Cummings is board-certified as a medical malpractice attorney. Brian is one of only fifteen attorneys in Tennessee with this certification, giving you confidence you're working with an expert. He has won over $47 million for his clients.
Contact Cummings Law today for a free consultation and learn how our experienced team can help you get the settlement you deserve.
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