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Surgery Malpractice Lawyers - Hemorrhoid Surgery
in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Nassau County, and Suffolk County
Anesthesia for Hemorrhoid Surgery goes Wrong
This case involves an 81 year old woman who underwent elective surgery to remove hemorrhoids. Multiple attempts by the anesthesiologist to give epidural anesthesia to the patient prior to the hemorrhoid surgery was unsuccessful and thereafter general anesthesia was given. The hemorrhoid surgery was completed and post operatively the patient complained of lower extremity weakness. Neurosurgery was immediately called in because it was believed that there was a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a bleed in an area near the spine called the subarachoid space. This subarachnoid hemorrhage was causing compression on her spine. The compression was causing significant weakness and temporary paralysis in the patient’s lower extremities.
Although decompression surgery was required at that point to relieve the pressure and the temporary paralysis caused by the bleed, the neurosurgery waited almost 24 hours later to perform the surgery thereby depriving the patient of a meaningful opportunity to avoid permanent lower extremity paralysis.
The defense called a radiologist at the time of trial to support its claim that the paralysis was permanent within minutes after the failed attempts at spinal anesthesia. Testimony was offered based upon the radiological images taken of this patient’s spine prior to the decompression surgery.
This witness testified numerous times that the bleed was not causing compression, in direct contradiction of a neuroradiology report by the Chief of Neuroradiology at the treating Hospital. It was this witness’ opinion that the head of Neuroradiology at the treating hospital was wrong in her interpretation of the films.
During his direct examination, the witness relied on images 12, 16 and 17 and testified that these images did not show compression.
However, this witness failed on direct examination to show images 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 all of which showed compression. On cross examination, this expert admitted that these images did in fact show compression. His response was although these films showed compression, it was not “significant” compression.
On cross examination we learned:
• That this expert had 1st been consulted only 2 weeks prior to the start of trial
• The expert admitted that compression caused by a spinal bleed can cause injury to the nerves
• The expert admitted that a spinal bleed is capable of causing compression
• The expert admitted that compression caused by a bleed can cause permanent damage
• That compression on the spine is a neurosurgical emergency
This was a classic case of a defense expert using selective show and tell to prove the defense case.
If you or a loved one has had surgery with an unexpected bad result and have questions about the quality of the medical care you received please call Silberstein, Awad & Miklos’ attorneys for answers. Together we will continue our fight against FRIVOLOUS DEFENSES and DECEPTIVE DEFENSES.
Call Toll-free 1– 877- ASK 4 SAM
Click here to read the cross -examination of the defendant's expert by our office.
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