Can Anesthesia Lead To Brain Damage?
Anesthesia is critical in many medical procedures, ensuring patients remain pain-free during surgery. General anesthesia, in particular, enables surgeons to perform complex, invasive surgeries by rendering patients unconscious. However, although generally safe, anesthesia poses significant health risks. In rare cases, it can lead to brain damage. Factors like the type of surgery, a patient’s age, and underlying health conditions can also influence the likelihood of anesthesia complications.
Types of Anesthesia
There are different types of anesthesia, each used for specific procedures. They include:
- Local anesthesia: Numbs a small area while the patient remains awake
- Regional anesthesia: Blocks pain in a larger part of the body, such as an epidural used during childbirth
- General anesthesia: Induces unconsciousness, allowing for more invasive and complex surgeries
- IV Sedation: Keeps patients relaxed and semi-conscious during procedures
Anesthesia is administered by anesthesiologists who are tasked with monitoring patients throughout surgery to ensure that the drugs work effectively. If mistakes happen in administering or monitoring anesthesia, severe consequences, including brain damage, can occur.
How Brain Damage From Anesthesia Can Happen
Below are some of the most common ways anesthesia-related brain damage may occur:
- Low Oxygen Levels
The body needs a constant supply of oxygen to function correctly; even a short period without it can cause life-altering effects. Anesthesia can slow breathing and heart rate, reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the brain. If an anesthesiologist fails to monitor oxygen levels closely, even a brief period of oxygen deprivation can cause cognitive impairment or permanent brain damage.
- Medication Errors
Using the wrong anesthesia or failing to check for allergies can also lead to serious complications. If a patient experiences severe drug interactions or allergic reactions, it can result in dangerous drops in blood pressure, which can deprive the brain of oxygen.
- Aspiration During Surgery
Ever wondered why doctors tell patients not to eat before surgery? Under general anesthesia, normal reflexes to prevent choking don’t happen. If a patient vomits while unconscious and inhales stomach contents, it can block their airway. If medical staff fail to intervene promptly, oxygen deprivation can make a patient suffer a hypoxic brain injury.
- Improper Intubation
In some surgeries, anesthesiologists insert a breathing tube to assist with oxygen flow. If the tube is placed incorrectly or removed too soon, the patient may not receive enough oxygen. Any delay in correcting the mistake can cause irreversible brain damage. Permanent brain damage can begin after four minutes, hence the need for medical professionals to monitor patients closely to prevent brain damage from anesthesia.
Can You Sue for Anesthesia-Related Brain Damage?
If you or a loved one suffered brain damage due to anesthetic errors, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. To have a valid case, you must prove the following:
- You were owed a duty of care
- Negligence on the part of the anesthesiologist
- Causation, in that negligence proximately caused the brain damage
- Resulting damages
In Atlanta and throughout Georgia, the statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit is usually 2 years. Therefore, you must act quickly to hold the negligent parties accountable and secure the compensation you deserve.
Contact an Experienced Atlanta Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
If you suspect negligence played a role in your case, contact our experienced medical malpractice attorney at Carroll Law Firm today to discuss the situation and determine the best way forward.
