Statistics on anesthesia errors in the U.S.
Posted on Monday, October 24th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Statistics show that an average of .724 anesthesia errors occur in the U.S. for every 1,000 surgical discharges. Elderly patients face greater risks under anesthesia with an average of .833 anesthesia errors occurring per 1,000 surgical discharges of patients over the age of 65-years old.
The most common anesthesia-related risk is patient death. 1 in 20 patients die within a year after receiving anesthesia and 1 in 10 patients over the age of 65 die within a year after receiving anesthesia. Worldwide, approximately 7 patients for every 1 million die from full anesthesia.
Patients can also suffer short-term and long-term health complications as the result of an anesthesia error. Common complications include heart attack, tracheal damage, stroke, coma, and brain damage.
5,691 anesthesia error medical malpractice claims received payouts from doctors and hospitals between 1990 and 2002. The average award in anesthesia-related claims was $338,190.
If you or someone you know has experienced medical complications as the result of an anesthesia error, contact the Philadelphia anesthesia error attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 215-238-1130 today.
Fire breaks out during pacemaker surgery, doctors sued
Posted on Tuesday, July 5th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
A lawsuit was recently filed against the Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas, a surgeon, and an anesthesiologist involved in a Texas woman’s pacemaker implant operation.
The woman, Selah Schulze, went to the hospital to have a pacemaker implanted. During the surgery, a cauterizer being used by the doctor ignited a fire that was exacerbated by an excess supply of oxygen being provided by the anesthesiologist.
Schulze suffered serious burn injuries to her right breast, chest, neck, head, and face from the fire. Multiple plastic surgery procedures were required to repair the damage from the burn injuries. Furthermore, a second surgery to implant the pacemaker was necessary after the doctors’ errors.
According to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System, around 550 to 650 surgical fires occur in the United States every year.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of an anesthesia error, contact the Philadelphia anesthesia error lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights as a patient.