What Factors Can Lead to an Anesthesia-related Death?
Many South Carolinians worry about the side effects of anesthesia when they need surgery — and understandably so. While experts say the risks of anesthesia are generally low, research suggests the general anesthesia death rate may be as high as seven deaths per every million patients.
Anesthesiologists must monitor their patients carefully during a procedure to ensure their vital signs, breathing, and medication levels remain stable. Errors at any point in the process could have fatal consequences. If someone you love died due to an anesthesia error, you should consult a South Carolina medical malpractice lawyer at Wilson Law Group, LLC for a free consultation.
Anesthesia Accidents: How Common are They?
A landmark study by the Institute of Medicine in 1999 suggested that as many as 98,000 people die yearly from medical mistakes. At least 7,000 of those fatalities were due to medication errors. Various studies since then have sought to identify how common errors are in anesthesia practice. One summary analysis of three studies found around one in 211 medication errors occurred in anesthesia. which increases anesthesia death rate.
Anesthesia Types
The type and amount of anesthesia a patient receives depends upon the medical procedure they need.
- General – Puts the patient in a state of unconsciousness, so their brains do not respond to pain
- Local – Numbs a small area where the procedure is performed
- Regional – Used for operations on a large portion of the body
- Sedation – Make patients drowsy or relaxed and can be administered at varying levels
How Can Anesthesia Errors Lead to Death?
General anesthesia carries the most risks to patients. Anesthesiologists must carefully review the patient’s medical history ahead of time to identify the best drugs to administer. During the procedure, they must administer the correct medications, watch the patient’s vital signs, and immediately address any side effects or complications.
Common fatal anesthesia errors include:
- Wrong dosage
- Wrong drug or “syringe swapping”
- Delayed delivery of medication
- Inadequate monitoring
- Failure to recognize and respond to emergencies
- Incorrect intubation
- Faulty equipment
- Lack of communication between the medical team
- Ineffective post-operative management
Potential Complications
Wrongfully administered anesthesia can cause a wide range of potentially fatal complications, including:
- Asphyxia
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Trachea injury
- Pulmonary trauma
- Aspiration
- Respiratory problems
- Infection
What to Do if Someone You Love Died From Wrongly Administered Anesthesia
You may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit if you lost a loved one from an adverse anesthesia event in South Carolina. An experienced attorney from Wilson Law Group, LLC can review your case and discuss your legal options for free.
Medical malpractice claims are complicated and require substantial proof that the healthcare worker acted negligently. Getting a lawyer involved in your case immediately is essential. In South Carolina, you have three years from the date of the procedure that caused the injury or three years from when the error was discovered (or should reasonably have been discovered) to file a claim.
Get Help from a South Carolina Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
We trust medical providers to keep us safe. When that trust is broken by a preventable error, the compassionate medical malpractice attorneys at Wilson Law Group, LLC can help you demand justice and compensation. Call or contact us today to speak with a skilled S.C. medical malpractice lawyer to know more about general anesthesia death rate.