Spot The Signs Of Anesthesia Overdose By Florida Health Care Providers
Experts estimate that there are around 230 million major surgeries performed under anesthesia every year worldwide, and the vast majority of these procedures go off without a hitch. A study published by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) indicates that patients who suffer adverse complications from anesthesia could be as low as 3 percent. However, for around .4 to .8 percent of all patients who receive anesthetics, the consequences of errors can be severe. Lasting bodily harm, disability, and death are the results in extreme cases of anesthesia mistakes.
According to the NLM, the specific type of error in 46.6 percent of fatal cases is general anesthesia overdose. Physicians make decisions on anesthesia based upon numerous factors, including weight, age, physical condition, type of procedure, and many others. A miscalculation could mean administration of too much medication, and you should discuss your circumstances with a Miami anesthesia errors lawyer if you suffered harm. It is also important to spot the signs of anesthesia overdose that you might experience upon awakening.
Common Side Effects and Complications
General anesthesia is the strongest form of medication that health care providers administer before procedures, since the drug aims to render the patient unconscious during the surgery. Aside from assessing the proper dose in advance, the anesthesiologist will also monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs during the procedure. This physician must make adjustments to the flow of medication as necessary to maintain an unconscious state and ensure the patient does not wake up.
In the event of anesthesia overdose, you may experience:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dementia and hallucinations
- Respiratory distress and related difficulties
- Brain damage
- Seizures
- Dementia and related mental and cognitive disorders
- Coma or prolonged unconsciousness
In extreme cases, anesthesia overdose can be fatal.
Damages in Anesthesia Overdose Cases
Compensation in Florida medical malpractice cases intends to make the patient whole, as if the medical error had never occurred and caused injuries. There are two categories of damages available when an anesthesia error causes patient harm:
- Economic Damages: These are the tangible, definable losses you sustain after being injured. You may incur additional medical costs for treatment of the injuries linked to anesthesia overdose and could be out of work while you recover. Bills for medical care, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket losses fall in this category.
- Noneconomic Damages: There are adverse consequences of being injured that are not measurable by dollar value, but you most certainly experience hardship. Noneconomic damages are the losses you sustain because of how your injuries diminish quality of life. Examples include pain and suffering and emotional distress.
A Florida Anesthesia Errors Attorney Can Advise You on Legal Remedies
It is helpful to know the signs of mistakes by anesthesiologists, but it is also reassuring to know you have options under Florida medical malpractice laws. To learn more about them, please contact Freidin Brown, P.A. You can schedule a no-cost consultation at our offices in Miami or Fort Myers, FL. Once we review the details of your case, we can advise you on taking legal action for anesthesia overdose.
Source:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3147285/#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20calculation%20based,worldwide%20every%20year%20(3)
