Signs of Injury Linked to Anesthesia Errors
The effects of an anesthesia error don't always appear in the operating room. In many cases, a patient is moved to recovery, and the signs of a serious complication emerge hours later.
Family members may notice:
- The patient is confused, agitated, or unable to recognize people;
- Speech is slurred, memory seems impaired, or vision is affected;
- One side of the body feels numb or is difficult to move;
- The patient is struggling to breathe or remains unusually drowsy; or
- Chest pain, nausea, or uneven heart rhythm suddenly develops.
These symptoms can indicate a significant injury, including:
- Hypoxic brain injury, caused by oxygen deprivation;
- Stroke, often related to blood pressure instability or airway issues;
- Cardiac arrest, due to improper mixing or dosing of anesthesia drugs;
- Lung damage from aspiration, if stomach contents entered the airway;
- Nerve injuries, including paralysis from an epidural or spinal block;
- Intraoperative awareness, where the patient recalls pain or pressure during surgery; or
- Wrongful death, in cases where staff failed to act despite signs of distress.
Some records describe the injury as an "unexpected complication" or "critical event," but do not explain what happened. When a patient has new cognition, breathing, or physical ability issues after surgery, those symptoms may point to an anesthesia error.
You may be entitled to significant compensation if you or a loved one was injured due to an anesthesia error. Contact an anesthesia errors lawyer at Pierce Skrabanek at (832) 690‑7000 to set up a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal rights.
What Can Cause Anesthesia Errors?
In our experience, anesthesia errors are often less about the drug itself and more about what wasn't monitored, corrected, or communicated during the surgery. We look closely at critical moments to determine what went wrong and why it wasn't fixed in time:
- Sedatives given without reviewing cross-reactions,
- Vitals missing or mischarted during intubation or induction,
- Airway tubes left unsecured after patient repositioning,
- Poor dosing decisions based on inaccurate weight or underlying conditions, or
- Recovery staff missing clear signs of oxygen debt.
Our attorneys work with independent anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and surgical consultants to review records minute by minute. We focus on where care procedures broke down and how that may have changed the outcome.
"We advocate for clients whose lives were changed due to anesthesia errors and work to make sure it doesn't happen again."
— Michael Pierce | Founding Attorney
If you've been told it was "just a complication" and nothing more, there may still be answers. An experienced anesthesia error lawyer can help you get access to the records and review them with the proper medical oversight.
What Compensation Can Cover After an Anesthesia Error
Anesthesia errors often change what a person can do on their own. We've represented clients who needed help walking, speaking, or caring for themselves, sometimes for the rest of their lives. A claim can reflect those changes and the support now required.
Compensation may include:
- Medical treatment related to the anesthesia error;
- Therapy for memory, speech, or physical recovery;
- Home care or equipment for daily needs;
- Lost income and future earning ability; and
- Long-term physical limitations.
The claim may include funeral expenses if your family member didn't survive. In anesthesia error cases, the records sometimes mention a vague event but don't explain what went wrong.
A closer review by an anesthesia error attorney may show that no one responded when oxygen dropped, or that the airway wasn't secured after sedation began. Identifying those failures is part of how we build the claim.
A national survey by Martindale-Nolo found that people who hired a lawyer received nearly three times more than those who didn't. Our work in anesthesia-related cases has led to over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for individuals and families facing these kinds of life-altering injuries.