Going Under the Knife? Ask About Anesthesia Awareness

What You Should Know About Anesthesia Before Going Under

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Shapiro Law Group

If you have an important surgical procedure planned in the near future, you may want to stick around and read this blog. While anesthesia is necessary to carry out many procedures, there are complications that have nightmarish outcomes.

One of the worst complications is anesthesia awareness, a condition where patients are aware of their surroundings and can sometimes feel pain. Fortunately, anesthesia awareness is rare. According to the Washington University School of Medicine, 1 to 2 patients out of 1,000 experience awareness during surgical procedures.

Why Does Anesthesia Awareness Occur?

Anesthesia awareness can be caused by medical mistakes or preexisting conditions. For example, an anesthesiologist failing to observe a patient’s medical history. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists suggests other mistakes that cause anesthesia awareness include improper use of equipment or administering an inadequate amount of anesthesia.

Certain conditions or behaviors might put patients at risk for suffering from anesthesia awareness. For example, Mayo Clinic suggests daily alcohol use and depression can increase the risk of suffering from this condition.

What Are the Possible Consequences of this Condition?

Patients who have suffered from this condition may never be the same again. For example, patients who have experienced anesthesia awareness can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can cause panic attacks, recurring nightmares and other significant mental health symptoms.

Patients who believe they have been affected by this condition should consider the possibility that it was caused by medical malpractice. If preventable mistakes were made before or during anesthesia, patients may have legal options. Patients must act quickly, as the statute of limitations for filing medical malpractice lawsuits may be running out.

The Florida medical malpractice attorneys at Shapiro Law Group holds negligent healthcare practitioners accountable when patients are injured.

Tags: PatientSafety

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