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In podiatric surgery, as in other types of surgical procedures, anesthesia complications can arise. While some of these complications are easily taken care of, others can result in death or catastrophic injury. Although certain anesthesia complications are unpredictable and unavoidable, some are due to the podiatrist’s negligence. Those in the latter category may constitute podiatry malpractice.
If you or someone you love has been harmed by an anesthesia error during podiatric surgery in New York City, Lawrence M. Karam, PC, lead attorney of Podiatry Malpractice Lawyers of New York is the person to contact. Attorney Karam not only has decades of experience concentrating in podiatry malpractice litigation, he also has a well-earned reputation for compassion, legal skill, and a history of successful courtroom outcomes.
It’s important to remember that not every complication from anesthesia is an example of podiatry malpractice. This is why you need a lawyer who concentrates on podiatry malpractice at your side to evaluate whether you have a viable malpractice case. If Attorney Karam believes that you do, he will work tirelessly to obtain the substantial damages you deserve to cover your ongoing medical costs, your lost income, and your pain and suffering.
Types of Anesthesia Used in Podiatric Surgery
Depending upon the kind of surgery you are having, your age, your anxiety level, and your individual health condition, you may receive one or two of the following types of anesthesia. There are pros and cons to each.
Local and Regional Anesthesia
Local and regional anesthesia are administered by injections that block pain by preventing the conduction of nerve impulses. While a local anesthetic is used to numb a small area, like a toe, regional blocks numb a larger area, like the foot and ankle. During either kind of anesthesia, you remain awake and can talk to the doctor, follow directions, and provide feedback.
Conscious Sedation
During conscious sedation, a mild sedative is administered intravenously. You will not be asleep during this form of anesthesia, but you will be extremely relaxed and will likely remember nothing of the experience. Because conscious sedation does not block pain, you will usually receive local or regional anesthesia at the same time.
General Anesthesia
Under general anesthesia, you will be in a deep sleep, experiencing no pain throughout the operation and remembering nothing about it. This type of anesthesia, however, comes with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and lung infection (especially if you are obese or a smoker).
Types of Anesthesia Errors that Occur in Podiatric Surgery
Whatever type of anesthesia you have had administered, and whatever kind of surgery you have undergone (e.g bunion, heel spur, hammertoe, Morton’s neuroma), you may have had the misfortune to suffer an anesthesia error involving podiatric malpractice, such as:
- Administration of too much anesthesia, putting your life in danger
- Administration of too little anesthesia, causing you breakthrough pain during surgery
- Failure to monitor your vital signs while you were under anesthesia
- Your doctor leaving the operating room while you were under anesthesia
- Failure to monitor you as you were coming out from under anesthesia
When serious harm comes to you as a result of one of these anesthesia errors, you are entitled to compensatory damages for both economic and non-economic injuries.
- Economic damages are actual losses you have incurred for things like medical expenses and lost income
- Noneconomic damages are funds for intangible, but very real losses, like permanent disability or loss of enjoyment of life
If you have lost a close relative to a podiatric anesthesia error that qualifies as podiatry malpractice, Lawrence Karam will fight vigorously to obtain wrongful death damages to cover final medical costs, funeral expenses, financial support, and the devastating loss of emotional companionship.
Contact Our Experienced Podiatry Malpractice Attorney Today
Lawrence Karam is dedicated to holding the podiatrist who caused you great harm accountable for his or her anesthesia error. Contact him soon so he can begin strategizing how best to win you the damages you need to restabilize your life.