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Anaesthetic accidents

General anaesthetic is often required for surgery although for some operations an epidural or sedation can be suitable alternatives. Anaesthetists are generally skilled in administering anaesthetic  but mistakes are very serious and often lead to death or permanent brain damage.

Most hospital will have strict guidelines that should be adhered to by the anaesthetist. If the guidelines are ignored or not properly adhered to then that can amount to negligence.

If you have suffered as the result of an anaesthetic accident, our professional clinical negligence lawyers will discuss with you in detail the circumstances of your particular experience and advise you accordingly.

General anaesthetic

• Errors in the correct placement of the breathing tube (oesophageal intubation)
  Proper placement of the endotracheal tube supplying oxygen to the patient’s lungs during an operation is critical. If the tube is accidentally inserted into the oesophagus (gullet) instead of the trachea (windpipe) then the oxygen and anaesthetic gases administered will go into the patient’s stomach instead of the lungs. If an anaesthetist fails to notice this error and reposition the tube promptly then brain damage and even death can occur.
• Errors in drug administration
  Too much anaesthetic can interfere with a patient’s breathing and oxygen intake causing brain damage or death. Defective equipment can also fail to provide medical staff with accurate information or deliver the correct dose of anaesthetic, again resulting in brain damage or death.  
• Pre and post-operative failures
  Failure by medical staff to carefully note details of any prescription drugs already being taken by a patient can also have serious consequences.  There can be dangerous interaction between certain drugs used for general anaesthesia and the drugs already being taken by a patient.  The anaesthetic drugs used must be compatible with other prescription drugs or the patient can suffer damage such as fits/seizures and possibly long term conditions..

Epidural anesthesia

Nerve damage and other complications
This procedure involves injecting local anesthetic into the epidural space of the spinal column. This means inserting a needle into the lumbar region of the lower back. It is a delicate procedure  commonly used for some operations as well as in childbirth.

Junior medical staff gain most of their experience by performing epidurals on actual patients. In experienced hands things can still go wrong but if the doctor has little experience then the risk of complications is much higher. If an epidural is not administered with skill and care it could have catastrophic consequences for the patient including :- brain damage, death, paralysis, nerve damage, headache, infection and failure to block sensation.

If you or your loved one has suffered complications following a poorly administered anaesthetic or epidural you may be able to claim compensation. This compensation can help you deal with medical or psychological issues arising as a result of clinical negligence. Our specialist clinical negligence lawyers can also advise you about making a formal complaint under the NHS Complaints Procedure.

For more information about making a claim or for a free consultation call our clinical negligence department on 0800 294 6250 or email us.

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