Philadelphia Anesthesia Error Attorneys

Anesthesia is a necessary part of surgery. Anesthesia is a medical treatment to control a patient’s feeling of pain through the administration of anesthetic drugs to reduce their pain. There are different types of anesthesia, and like all drugs, they come with different risks to the patient. Anesthesia errors can lead to serious injury and death.

If you have suffered injury or lost a family member because of anesthesia errors, you might be entitled to compensation. For more information about your rights and how one of our Philadelphia anesthesia error attorneys can help you, call Youman & Caputo at (215) 302-1999.

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• At Youman & Caputo, personalized client attention is a core principle of our firm. Our clients can speak with one of the name partners anytime they have questions, want an update, or when there is an important development in their case.

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Types of Anesthesia

There are different types of anesthesia. The type used depends on the patient’s medical condition, the type of procedure, the patient’s preference, and what is safe for the patient. The different types of anesthesia include:

• Local anesthesia: local anesthesia numbs a small area of the body. It is usually administered as an injection or sometimes a cream. It does not put the patient to sleep. The patient remains awake and alert, but will feel no pain in the area being treated. Local anesthesia is used for minor procedures like stitching a deep cut, removing a mole or cyst, or resetting a broken bone.
• Regional anesthesia: regional anesthesia numbs a large area of the body. Just like with local anesthesia, the patient remains awake and aware but feels no pain in the area. Regional anesthesia is usually administered in the nerves that provide feeling for the area to be treated. Two common types of regional anesthesia are epidural and spinal anesthesia.
  • Spinal anesthesia is used for surgeries involving the lower body such as the pelvic and rectal areas, as well as the lower extremities. It is often used in childbirth or for orthopedic surgeries such as total knee and hip replacements.
  • Epidural anesthesia is similar to spinal anesthesia and is used for the same types of procedures. The main difference between the epidural anesthesia and the spinal anesthesia is in the administration of the anesthetic. While the spinal anesthesia is a single dose of anesthetic medicine injected into the lower back, epidural anesthesia is a continuous infusion of anesthetic medicine into the lower back through a hollow catheter.
• General anesthesia: general anesthesia puts the patient to “sleep.” This is what most people think of first when they are talking about anesthesia. Under general anesthesia, the patient is unconscious and unaware of what is going on. They feel no sensations. General anesthesia can be administered as gas or vapor given through a mask or breathing tube. They can also be administered intravenously through an IV injection. While a patient is under general anesthesia, the anesthesiologist must continuously monitor the patient’s vital signs to make sure they are steady. After the surgical procedure is over, the anesthesiologist reverses the effect of the general anesthesia to awaken the patient and bring them back to consciousness. They must also monitor the patients in recovery to make sure their vital signs are stable.

Complications From Anesthesia

Although all forms of anesthesia carry some risk of complications, general anesthesia carries the most risk. Advances in science have improved surgical procedures and anesthesia, however, as with any medical procedure, there are risks involved in the administration of anesthesia. These are some of the common complications that a patient can experience from anesthesia:

Breathing difficulty – patients who have been treated with anesthesia can experience breathing difficulty during and after their procedure. Patients with pre-existing conditions such as sleep apnea may have difficulty regaining consciousness after their procedure, or they may stop breathing during their procedure. Smokers may also suffer this complication from anesthesia.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction – this is a serious complication from anesthesia most common among elderly patients. It is a state where a patient experiences a decline in their memory or cognitive function after surgery. This condition is well known to anesthesiologists. Patients with some pre-existing conditions like congestive heart failure, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease are more prone to this complication. It is important for an anesthesiologist to carefully assess the patient’s medical history to avoid possible complications.

Malignant hyperthermia – this is a complication from anesthesia drugs that causes the body to react with dangerously high body temperature and muscle spasms. This is a potentially fatal complication from anesthesia.

Common Causes of Anesthesia Errors

According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, the most common causes of anesthesia errors are as follows:

• Lack of experience
• Poor communication with medical team
• Carelessness
• Failure to perform normal checks on patient
• Lack of adequate supervision
• Distraction

These are all possible grounds for a medical malpractice claim. If you or a family member has suffered from anesthesia errors, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

Contact a Legal Professional Today

The Philadelphia anesthesia error attorneys at Youman & Caputo are experienced in medical malpractice law. We will protect your best interests and fight to get you justice in your case. Your initial consultation is at no cost to you. Call us today at to schedule your free consultation with one of our medical malpractice lawyers.