Patient Suffers Permanent Nerve Damage Due to Failed Anesthesiology Procedure

ByMichael Morgenstern

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Updated onOctober 12, 2017

Patient Suffers Permanent Nerve Damage Due to Failed Anesthesiology Procedure

This case takes place in New Hampshire and involves an 80-year-old patient who underwent orthopedic procedure. The anesthesiologist in question performed a Supraclavicular block to numb the patient’s arm. Following the surgery, the patient complained of pain in the bicep. The biceps atrophied due to nerve damage. The patient is now suffering permanent upper trunk brachial plexopathy
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Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Do you perform Supraclavicular blocks?

2. Have you ever had a patient suffer a similar result?

Expert Witness Response E-008935

inline imageI routinely performed supraclavicular blocks while I was in private practice and never had a patient suffer a similar result. However, for the past 14-years I have been in an academic setting where our blocks are placed by our acute pain service. That said, a key point in this case would be what was disclosed in the informed consent for the block. There are particular risks in placing nerve blocks and those risks, including those that can potentially cause serious and long-term effects, must be covered prior to the block and certainly prior to sedation for the block. Only with this disclosure can a patient weigh those risks against the alternative anesthetic plans and then give informed consent for the procedure. In terms of actual placement of the block, we would need to look at the experience of the anesthesiologist and asses his placement of the block (e.g. ultrasound guided; nerve stimulator: injection pressures). I would also ask if the patient was awake during placement of the block. If so, did the patient complain of any pain during the procedure?

About the author

Michael Morgenstern

Michael Morgenstern

Michael is Senior Vice President of Marketing at The Expert Institute. Michael oversees every aspect of The Expert Institute’s marketing strategy including SEO, PPC, marketing automation, email marketing, content development, analytics, and branding.

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