The purpose of Anesthesia medications is to prepare patients for surgery by:
Preventing pain
Decreasing stress
Inducing amnesia
Prevent muscle movement during surgery
Four TYPES OF ANESTHESIA ARE:
General Anesthesia is when a patient is unconscious and has no awareness or sensation. During general anesthesia, the patient may receive anesthetic gases given through a mask or may be given medication given through the IV to induce sleep, relax muscles, and treat pain.
Regional Anesthesia prevents pain by causing numbness. Regional anesthesia completely blocks sensation in the area of the body that requires surgery. The anesthesiologist will inject local anesthesia (numbing medication) near the cluster of nerves that provides sensation to that area.
Sedation or Monitored Anesthesia is what people have often referred to in the past as “twilight”. Medications are given, usually through an IV, to make the patient feel drowsy and relaxed. Different levels of sedation are possible, depending on the type of procedure and the patient’s preference.
Local Anesthesia Is the term used for medication such as lidocaine that is injected through a needle or applied as a cream to numb a small area. Local anesthesia alone may provide enough pain relief for limited procedures such as sewing up a deep cut or filling dental cavities. It is often used along with sedation during minor outpatient surgery.
When Anesthesia is negligently administered, it can be extremely deadly to the patient:
87% of anesthesia deaths are due to human error
More than half of anesthesia errors occur at the time the anesthesia is being administered
Prescription errors account for 17% of anesthesia errors
Negligent transcription account for 11% of anesthesia errors
Patients over 50 years old are more likely to suffer more serious injury due to anesthesia complications
Anesthesia Errors happen due to:
Administering anesthesia at the wrong spinal level
Negligently administering anesthesia into the spinal cord
Anesthesia overdose
Administering the wrong drug
Inadequate monitoring
Failure to prevent drug interactions
Allergic reactions
Improper patient instructions prior to the procedure
Failure to provide sufficient oxygen during surgery
Defective medical equipment
Anesthesia Errors can cause:
Heart arrhythmia
Heart function problems
Cardiovascular collapse
Blood pressure complications
Spinal cord injury/paralysis
Vein/artery/nerve damage
Inadequate oxygen supply
Birth defects to a baby during delivery
Brain/organ damage
Seizures/stroke
Coma
Death
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or death from an Anesthesia error
