Tampa Anesthesia Errors: A Comprehensive Guide to Compensation

• General anesthesia. This type renders the patient completely unconscious and unaware of pain during surgery. It affects the entire body and is typically administered through inhaled gasses or vapors, as well as intravenous (IV) medications.
• Regional anesthesia. This type blocks pain in a larger part of the body, such as the abdomen, legs or chest. It includes spinal anesthesia, which is injected into the spinal fluid to numb the lower half of the body, and epidural anesthesia, which is injected into the space around the spinal cord (often administered to reduce pain during active labor).

• Local anesthesia. Local anesthesia numbs a small, specific area of the body. It’s often used for minor surgeries or procedures, such as dental work or skin biopsy. The medication is typically injected directly into the tissue around the surgical site.
• Sedation (monitored anesthesia care). This involves using medications to make a patient relaxed, drowsy and pain-free during a procedure. The level of sedation can range from minimal, where the patient is awake but relaxed, to deep, where the patient might be close to unconsciousness but can still be awakened.

It’s difficult to know exactly how many anesthesia errors occur because cases aren’t always reported, but here’s what we do know. 

One study published in the National Library of Medicine revealed that in surveys of anesthesiologists, between 30% and 89% of respondents admitted to having made at least one drug administration error over the course of their careers. 

Another study published in 2023 found that the occurrence of medication errors during general anesthesia procedures ranged from 0.02% to 1.12%, equating to approximately 1 error in every 90 to 5000 procedures. 

Of these medication errors, the most frequently reported error was substitution (31.6%), followed closely by incorrect dosage (28.4%). Fortunately, most of these errors didn’t result in lasting harm to the affected patients.

The medications most commonly associated with the administration errors in the study included: 

• Muscle relaxants
• Opioids
• Antibiotics

The primary contributing factors reported were inexperience among anesthesiologists, nurses or students, followed by pressure to proceed quickly and communication issues.

• Drug errors. These are the most prevalent types of errors in anesthesia, involving the incorrect drug, dose or route of administration. Mistakes can occur due to similar packaging, labeling and drug names, leading to dangerous mix-ups.
• Equipment failure. Anesthesia equipment is complex and requires regular maintenance and checks. Failure to properly use, check or maintain this equipment can lead to critical errors, such as insufficient delivery of oxygen or anesthetic agents.
• Poor communication. Miscommunication or lack of communication among the surgical and anesthesia team members can result in errors. This includes failure to properly convey patient information, medication doses or changes in patient status.
• Documentation errors. Accurate and thorough documentation is essential in anesthesia care. Inaccurate or incomplete records can lead to misinformed decisions about patient care and difficulties in postoperative management.
• Pressure to work quickly. Working under time pressure is another significant source of errors in anesthesia. Rushing can lead to oversights, such as skipping essential checks, hurriedly administering drugs without double-checking, or inadequately monitoring the patient. 

• Inadequate patient monitoring. Continuous monitoring of the patient’s vital signs is crucial during anesthesia. Errors can occur if the anesthetist fails to appropriately monitor or respond to changes in the patient’s condition, leading to complications such as hypoxia or cardiac events.
• Intubation errors. These errors can occur when the placement of a breathing tube, known as intubation, causes damage to the patient’s airway, surrounding tissues or teeth. While intubation is a standard procedure to ensure proper ventilation during surgery, complications can arise, leading to injuries such as vocal cord damage, throat irritation or chipped teeth.
• Failure to recognize or adequately prepare for complications. Anesthesiologists must be prepared to manage potential complications during surgery. Failure to anticipate or recognize these complications early can lead to delayed treatment and worsened outcomes.
• Regional anesthesia complications. While regional anesthesia techniques like spinal or epidural blocks are generally safe, errors can occur, such as wrong-site administration or complications from the technique itself, leading to nerve damage or infection.

• Allergic reactions. Some patients may have allergic reactions to certain anesthetic drugs, which can range from mild skin reactions to severe anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate treatment.
• Aspiration pneumonia. Improper management of anesthesia can lead to aspiration, where a patient inhales stomach contents into their lungs, leading to pneumonia, a serious and potentially fatal lung infection.
• Awareness during surgery. This rare but distressing complication occurs when a patient becomes conscious during surgery due to insufficient anesthesia but is unable to move or communicate. It can lead to long-term psychological effects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Nerve damage. Errors in administering regional anesthesia can lead to nerve damage, resulting in temporary or permanent loss of sensation, movement, or both in the affected area.

• Respiratory and cardiovascular complications. Overdosage or incorrect administration of anesthetic drugs can lead to respiratory depression or cardiovascular instability, including dangerously low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms or cardiac arrest.
• Brain damage. Severe respiratory or cardiovascular complications from anesthesia errors can reduce oxygen supply to the brain, leading to potential catastrophic injuries like brain bleeds or hypoxic brain injury.
• Postoperative complications. Errors in anesthesia can also increase the risk of postoperative complications, such as infections, prolonged recovery time, increased pain and delayed discharge from the hospital.
• Death. Although extremely rare, the most severe consequence of anesthesia errors is death. This can result from severe allergic reactions, aspiration pneumonia, major cardiovascular complications or profound brain damage due to prolonged oxygen deprivation.

• Duty of care. It must be established that the healthcare provider had a duty of care toward the patient. In the context of anesthesia, this is generally a given, as the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist is directly involved in the patient’s care.
• Breach of standard of care. The patient must demonstrate that the anesthesia provider failed to adhere to the accepted standard of care. This involves showing that the provider acted in a way that a competent professional in the same field would not have under similar circumstances.

• Causation. There must be a direct link between the provider’s breach of duty and the harm that came to the patient. This means showing that the anesthesia error directly caused the patient’s injury or worsened condition.
• Damages. The patient must have suffered actual harm as a result of the anesthesia error. This can include physical injury, additional medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, or other forms of harm.

• Medical records. Comprehensive medical records are crucial as they document the patient’s condition, the anesthesia plan, the execution of that plan, and any complications. This includes preoperative assessments, anesthesia reports, operative reports, and postoperative care notes.
• Expert testimony. Expert witnesses (typically experienced anesthesiologists or anesthesia providers) are necessary to explain the standard of care under the circumstances, how that standard was breached, and how the breach resulted in harm to the patient. These experts are essential because they can break down complex medical issues for the court to show fault on the part of the healthcare provider.

• Documentation of damages. Evidence of damages like medical bills, records of additional treatments needed due to the anesthesia error, documentation of lost wages, and expert assessments of future medical costs, pain and suffering, or loss of earning capacity is also essential.
• Witness testimony. Testimonies from the patient, family members, and healthcare providers can offer additional insights into the patient’s condition before and after the procedure, the information provided by the anesthesia team, and the impact of the injury on the patient’s life.

• Case evaluation. An attorney can provide an initial evaluation to determine if the case has merit based on the available evidence and the likelihood of proving malpractice.
• Gathering evidence. Attorneys can facilitate the collection of all relevant medical records and other documentation. They are experienced in navigating the healthcare system’s complexities to obtain necessary evidence.
• Engaging expert witnesses. Medical malpractice attorneys have networks of qualified medical experts who can review the evidence, offer opinions on the standard of care and causation, and testify on behalf of the patient.

• Legal strategy. Attorneys develop a legal strategy tailored to the specifics of the anesthesia malpractice case, including identifying the most compelling evidence and arguments to present in court.
• Negotiation and litigation. An experienced attorney can negotiate settlements with the defense and, if necessary, litigate the case in court. They understand the legal process and can advocate effectively for the patient’s interests.
• Handling procedural issues. Medical malpractice claims are subject to strict procedural rules, including statutes of limitations and specific filing requirements. An attorney ensures that all legal steps are correctly followed to maintain the viability of the case.