Anesthesia is the generalized drug used to diminish pain in surgeries or medical procedures. It can be given locally or induced generally. The specific medical method determines the type of anesthesia to be used. Local anesthesia is given to numb a particular area. It is used in minor procedures, while general anesthesia makes the patient completely unconscious and is used in major surgeries.
An anesthesiologist is responsible for preparing and administering the correct dose of anesthesia. Any mistake by the doctor can potentially be fatal for the patient or can lead to severe complications. If you have encountered any act of medical negligence, you are entitled to compensation from the doctor.
A personal injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve. In the following personal injury blog, we have mentioned the common injuries with anesthetic drugs.
Types of anesthesia errors.
- Local anesthesia errors:
Local anesthesia is considered safer than general anesthesia, as local anesthesia is applied topically or injected, so the chances of generalized reactions to the anesthetic agent are less. The side effects of local anesthetics are seen when the anesthetic agent comes in contact with the blood. Common side effects include hypertension and increased heart rate.
- Regional anesthesia errors:
In these procedures, anesthesia is used to stop sensation to a particular body region; for example, if a doctor has to operate the lower extremities, they will inject the agent into the spinal cord and block the nerve impulses. This method is called a nerve block.
Epidural injections are used to inject the anesthetic agent into the spinal cord. Common side effects of regional anesthetics include heart attacks or high blood pressure accompanied by nerve damage.
- General Anaesthesia errors:
The body gives adverse reactions to the general anesthetics. Therefore, many things have to be considered, like age of the patient, weight, nutrition, gender, and more, before administering a general anesthetic. General anesthetics relax the body’s muscles and diminish all the pain signals. Therefore to maintain an adequate oxygen supply, it is essential to keep the muscle of the throat open. This process is known as intubation.
Complications can occur with general anesthetics like throat damage, damage to teeth, or difficulty in breathing which could lead to death.
If you or your loved ones have faced injuries due to anesthetic errors, you are entitled to compensation from the negligent party. You can get help from a personal injury lawyer to file a medical malpractice claim.
