Anesthesia Error Attorneys in St. Louis

Anesthesia errors are a form of medical malpractice when they are the result of a medical care provider’s preventable mistake. Anesthesia errors can result in severe harm to a patient, and in some cases may lead to patient death. On average, there are nearly 300 deaths every year in the United States attributable to mistakes involving anesthesia.

If you have been adversely affected by an anesthesia error and require compensation for your pain and suffering, then it is highly advised you contact a St. Louis medical malpractice lawyer. An attorney from our firm can meticulously investigate your case and use the information found to increase your chances of receiving compensation from the negligent parties. You may be entitled to recompense for past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.

Meyerkord & Kurth offers free consultations. To begin discussing your case, call our office today at (800) 391-4318.

Common Anesthesia Errors

In surgical procedures, an anesthesiologist stays only long enough to administer the anesthesia, at which point a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) takes over. In the event that complications arise during the surgery or a quick decision needs to be made, errors involving anesthesia or the further anesthetizing of the patient can take place. These errors can cause significant damage to the patient and result in life-altering consequences. 

Common anesthesia errors include:

• Administering too much or not enough medication
• Delaying anesthesia
• Failing to prevent drug interactions
• Failing to check the patient’s medical history for allergies before administering anesthesia
• Administering the wrong drug
• Failing to properly instruct the patient on pre- or post-operative care
• Failing to properly monitor the patient during surgery
• Errors caused by defective medical equipment

These errors may result in:

• Brain or organ damage
• Heart problems
• Blood pressure problems
• Artery, vein, or nerve damage
• Heart arrhythmia
• Dizziness, blurred vision, or confusion
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Spinal cord injury, possibly resulting in paralysis
• Stroke
• Seizures
• Coma and death

In one particularly frightening scenario, patients who receive too little anesthesia can experience what is called anesthesia awareness (also called unintended intra-operative awareness). In this situation, a patient may be conscious and aware during the duration of their surgical procedure, and yet unable to move or verbally inform doctors that more anesthesia is needed. Many patients who experience anesthesia awareness later develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of extreme anxiety and stress.

Staunch Representation for St. Louis Medical Malpractice Victims

At Meyerkord & Kurth, we understand that anesthesia error cases can be complex and filled with extremely technical details. With the help of experts in the field of anesthesiology, we are prepared to thoroughly review and examine your case to properly determine liability. After our investigation, we can aggressively pursue a course of legal action designed to secure full compensation for your injuries. Our goal is to help you move on from this ordeal as soon as possible, so you can be confident leaving the legal aspect of your case up to us.

The Missouri statute of limitations only allows up to two years to file a medical malpractice claim, so do not hesitate to contact a St. Louis medical malpractice attorney at Meyerkord & Kurth as soon as possible.

You can discuss your situation with one of our lawyers by scheduling a complimentary consultation. Call (800) 391-4318 today.