Memphis Anesthesia Error Attorneys

Real Support for Difficult Medical Injury Cases

An anesthesia error can lead to serious health complications and life-threatening situations. If you were hurt due to an anesthesiologist’s mistakes, then you should see if you can be compensated for your injuries and damages. Let Donati Law, PLLC in Memphis know what happened, and we can let you know if you have a valid case. Call (901) 209-5500 or contact us online for more information.

Types of Anesthesia

Different types of anesthesia are used for different forms of medical procedures. The anesthesia used on you – and that was involved in the anesthesia error – will be important to the formation and validity of your claim.

What type of anesthesia was used incorrectly on you?

• General anesthesia: Used to render a patient unconscious, general anesthesia is usually administered through a gas, vapor, or IV.
• Regional anesthesia: Used to prevent a body part or organ from feeling any sensation, regional anesthesia targets nerve clusters. Patients are often given a sedative to allow them to sleep during procedures that use regional anesthesia.
• Sedation anesthesia: Also called monitored anesthesia care, sedation anesthesia places the patient into a drowsy feeling called twilight. This anesthesia form allows the patient to respond to questions and prompts without being aware of any discomfort or pain.
• Local anesthesia: Temporary pain elimination can be achieved through an injection of local anesthesia, such as injecting lidocaine into the gums before filling a cavity.

Harm Caused by Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia needs to be administered by a specially trained medical professional called an anesthesiologist. Through their training, an anesthesiologist learns the right amount of anesthesia to administer based on the medical procedure as well as many factors pertaining to the patient’s health. They must administer the precise amount of anesthesia, continue to administer it if necessary, and watch the patient’s vital signs throughout the procedure.

Anesthesia errors can be sorted into three umbrella types:

• Too much: Administering too much anesthesia can be extremely dangerous, especially for sedation and general anesthesia applications. An overdose of anesthesia can cause heart and respiratory failure, coma, and death. Lasting complications can occur if a patient survives an anesthesia overdose.
• Too little: Administering too little anesthesia can cause the patient to remain awake or feel pain during a procedure. The worst-case scenario is if a patient has enough anesthesia to lose the ability to communicate with the medical staff but not enough to feel no pain.
• Allergenic: Some patients are allergic to anesthesia, so none at all should be used during any procedure. An alternative painkiller or sedative must be used. An anesthesia allergy can cause respiratory failure, fever, nausea, and other severe reactions.

Contact Us If an Anesthesiologist’s Mistake Hurt You

If you or a loved one were harmed due to an anesthesia error, then you should consider your options to file a medical malpractice case right away. The most useful evidence might be time-sensitive, so there is little time to lose. Please reach out to our attorneys by dialing (901) 209-5500. From our law office in Memphis, we assist clients throughout the region.