If you undergo surgery or another medical procedure, you may receive anesthesia during the operation that minimizes the pain you feel.
Hospitals hire anesthesiologists to ensure anesthesia is administered properly and in the correct dosage. Still, mistakes can happen.
Clients who come to our office fearing an overdose of anesthesia typically want to know:
- What are the side effects of too much anesthesia?
- Can someone suffer from an anesthesia overdose death?
- How can symptoms of anesthesia overdose affect me in the long run?
Our medical malpractice attorneys at Poulos & Cavazos can help you understand the dangers of too much anesthesia.
The side effects of excessive anesthesia are serious and lasting. And we can guide you through the process of filing your lawsuit to recover what you have lost.
Contact our office today to schedule an appointment with a medical malpractice lawyer.
Receiving Too Much Anesthesia – Side Effects
Anesthesia numbs a patient’s senses during a medical procedure and puts them in a sleep-like state.
The patient typically uses a breathing tube or mask to inhale the anesthesia or receives an injection through an IV.
The anesthesiologist will ask you a variety of questions and evaluate your medical history to determine how much anesthesia they should administer.
In some cases, the anesthesiologist may accidentally give you too much anesthesia, or your body may react to the anesthesia unexpectedly.
If you suffer an injury after receiving anesthesia, you should contact an attorney right away.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia causes the patient to lose consciousness and typically has the most side effects, which include:
- Nausea or vomiting,
- Sore throat,
- Postoperative delirium,
- Itching,
- Chills, or
- Muscle aches.
In some cases, general anesthesia can result in more serious side effects. Some patients develop confusion and memory issues that last longer than a few days, affecting long-term memory and causing learning issues.
In rare cases, anesthesia can cause a patient to suffer malignant hypothermia. This occurs when a fever and muscle contractions suddenly occur during surgery.
Monitored Anesthesia
Monitored anesthesia, also referred to as IV sedation, occurs when a patient receives medication that makes them sleepy and keeps them from feeling pain but does not render them totally unconscious.
Side effects of sedation can include headaches, nausea, or drowsiness.
Serious side effects of monitored anesthesia may include a pneumothorax, which occurs when anesthesia is being injected near the lungs, and the needle accidentally pierces the lung.
This may result in the lung collapsing and requiring a chest tube to re-inflate it.
You can read our detailed article on further examples of anesthesia malpractice.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney at Poulos & Cavazos Today to Discuss the Side Effects of Too Much Anesthesia
Coming out of a serious medical procedure can be a stressful experience. This is especially true if you were administered too much anesthesia.
Our team focuses specifically on medical malpractice claims. We are committed to recovering compensation for our clients and their families.
Contact a malpractice lawyer at Polous & Cavazos today so we can start reviewing your case.
Victor Poulos, JD
For more than two decades, Victor Poulos has devoted his practice exclusively to representing patients and families harmed by medical negligence. He has handled complex medical malpractice cases involving hospitals, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare providers, and has taken hundreds of depositions of physicians, nurses, and hospital staff across nearly every medical specialty. Mr. Poulos has successfully tried high-stakes malpractice cases to verdict and is known for his meticulous case preparation and relentless advocacy on behalf of injured patients.
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