Brain Damage From Anesthesia

Thank science for anesthesia! Without it, we would have to endure the excruciating pain of surgery. Worse still, we would remember every second of it. But anesthesia ensures there are only two things we remember about an operation. One, drifting off to dreamland. Two, waking up thinking, “Wait…it’s already over?” Yes, anesthesia is helpful. But it doesn’t come without risks. If you or a loved one has suffered brain damage from anesthesia, you know this all too well. You’re left with anguish, questions, and piles of medical bills. 

Is there anything you can do to make it better? 

If your anesthesiologist was negligent, you have the right to sue. Below, we’ll explain how brain injuries from anesthesia happen. Also, we’ll discuss how you can hold negligent medical staff accountable for their mistakes. 

Have specific questions related to your case? Contact Hampton & King today for a free consultation.  

Types Of Anesthesia & Their Risks

The list of procedures that require some type of anesthesia could probably wrap around the world twice. It’s common, and rarely harms the patient. 

But there’s always some level of risk. So doctors have the obligation to explain the side effects and risks to patients. For example, you could have an allergic reaction to the medication, a sore throat, and tooth damage. There’s a risk of the anesthesia not working, which means you could feel some degree of pain. 

But there’s one thing your doctors probably won’t elaborate on: brain damage from anesthesia. It’s possible, especially with general anesthesia. That’s why anesthesiologists must be careful and precise. Throughout a procedure, they have to monitor the patient. They must check the patient’s “vitals”, such as blood fluid levels and blood pressure.

Here’s a quick explanation of the different types of anesthesia:

• Local anesthesia: The doctor numbs a small area. This is for minor procedures like stitches and skin biopsies. 
• Regional anesthesia: Epidurals and spinal blocks are examples of regional anesthesia. It numbs a larger area of the body. But the patient stays awake during the procedure. 
• Conscious sedation: This type of anesthesia relieves anxiety and pain while allowing you to remain conscious. Doctors apply it for small surgeries and invasive procedures. Examples include C-sections, colonoscopies, and some types of dental work. 
• General anesthesia: This type presents the greatest risk of brain damage from anesthesia. That’s because it may require them to stop breathing (they will receive oxygen through a tube). It renders a patient unconscious and without any feeling. The muscles will stay relaxed. They won’t remember anything after the surgery. Side effects of general anesthesia include:
  • Sore throat
  • Aches
  • Itchiness
  • Hypothermia
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Back pain
  • Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
  • Nerve damage

How Brain Damage From Anesthesia Can Happen

It’s not difficult for anesthesiologists to prevent brain injuries from anesthesia. All should go well if they follow protocol. So why do things sometimes go south? In many cases, it’s because they got distracted, left the room, or ignored crucial warning signs. In other words, they were careless and negligent. Read on for examples of what that negligence looks like. 

Allowing Oxygen Levels To Get Too Low

The brain needs oxygen to function. What carries oxygen to the brain? Blood. But blood flow can slow during anesthesia, which is why anesthesiologists must monitor patients every single second. 

Low or no oxygen can cause irreparable damages in mere seconds. For example, a patient might suffer a stroke, and lose important brain functions.  

Using The Wrong Type Of Anesthesia Drug

The second top cause of fatal brain damage from anesthesia is drug complications. This includes allergic reactions and using the wrong type of drug. Plaintiffs have been able to hold an anesthesiologist liable for negligence when there is evidence that they did not check a patient’s files for drug allergies (or ignored them).  

Failing To Act When A Patient Vomits During Surgery

Ever wonder why you’re not allowed to eat before surgery? Forced fasts may be annoying, but they’re meant to keep you safe. Since general anesthesia stops your body’s natural reflexes, the stomach might hit “return to sender” on any food inside it. 

A patient who vomits might inhale it and stop breathing. Doctors must watch for warning signs and fast fast when this happens. And what happens if they don’t? The patient can suffer a hypoxic brain injury from lack of oxygen. 

Improper Intubation

For some surgeries, patients might require an anesthesia drug that paralyzes the muscles. They will need intubation (a breathing tube) to keep breathing. Doctors must place breathing tubes with great care. A patient’s life depends on it! 

Why? Because no breathing equals oxygen deprivation. Oxygen deprivation equals harm to brain cells. And harm to brain cells can lead to permanent brain damage from anesthesia. 

Failing To Monitor The Patient After Surgery 

Anesthesiologists have to do a lot of monitoring. It doesn’t stop when surgery ends. Sometimes, patients have stopped breathing hours after surgery because they received too much of an anesthesia drug. 

Close monitoring with electronic equipment can ensure doctors act fast and prevent brain damage from anesthesia. Every second is crucial. Permanent brain damage begins after just 4 minutes without oxygen. Patients can pass away just 4 to 6 minutes later. 

Brain Damage From Anesthesia: Settlements & Lawsuits

Wondering how much anesthesia malpractice lawsuits can recover? Here are some recent examples: 

$9.38 Million Settlement for Teenager with Brain Damage from Anesthesia. In Middlesex County, New Jersey, a family claimed their 15-year-old son sustained a brain injury from anesthesia. He had undergone surgery for a torn ACL. The case settled for $9.38 million.

Jury Awards $8.3 Million to Victim’s Husband for Anesthesia Drug Error. In Texas, John Davis filed a malpractice lawsuit against Texas Health Hospital. His wife sustained severe brain damage from anesthesia after hip surgery. The anesthesiologist administered a bleeding control drug instead of spinal anesthesia. 

Surgeon and Nurse Anesthetist Arrested after Patient Dies from Anesthesia Complications 

18-year-old Emmalyn Nguyen underwent breast augmentation surgery at Colorado Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery in 2019. The staff’s negligence left her with severe brain damage from anesthesia. She went under cardiac arrest twice and fell into a coma. After surviving in a vegetative state for about a year, she passed away. 

Her family is seeking millions in a wrongful death lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges the doctors left Nguyen “unobserved” for 15 minutes after putting her under anesthesia. Both the surgeon and the nurse anesthetist involved have been charged with manslaughter. 

Suing For Brain Damage From Anesthesia 

Can you sue an anesthesiologist or hospital for brain damage from anesthesia? The answer is yes, as long as you can prove the following:

• The medical personnel’s action or inaction was negligent. (In legal terms, this means they deviated from protocol. They failed to do what any competent doctor would do in that situation. 
• An anesthesiologist or hospital’s negligence caused you harm. In other words, you can prove your loved one suffered brain damage from anesthesia, and not from an underlying condition.
• You can file within the statute of limitations. That’s the time limit for filing a lawsuit. It varies by state, but it’s usually 2-3 years after the injury occurred. 

If you’re unsure whether to file a lawsuit, contact a lawyer. The medical malpractice team at Hampton & King has recovered millions in damages for victims in the state of Texas. If you’re  looking for competent and compassionate representation, give us a call!

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