Deadly Epidural

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Specializes in RN: L&D, LPN: Med/Surg, CNA: MedSurg/LTC.
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Specializes in RN: L&D, LPN: Med/Surg, CNA: MedSurg/LTC.

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Specializes in postpartum, nursery, high risk L&D.

Wow, CREEPY....I just had a patient in labor a week or two ago who had recently moved to our area from D.C. They somehow knew this family and were telling the anesthesiologist all about it as he was putting in her epidural.

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I had a similar experience with my own epidural, I thankfully lived, but one of my children did not. I got an infection in the hospital... I had been in there for 3 weeks on bed rest with twins. My children were born at 140 pm and by 9pm my smallest son had died and my bigger one was on deaths door. They had strep. I had been tested the day before delivery for strep B and I didnt have it. After delivery I developed a fever and headache. I was put on antibiotics as well as my sons, but only two of us made it out of there alive. The hospital admitted guilt and the doctor was fired but it didnt help my son.

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Very sad stories. :( I'm sorry to hear about your loss rebemomma.

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It's ok. I have lost a lot. Ive had 13 miscarriages. I do have 2 healthy sons though and I feel blessed to have them.

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Wow, CREEPY....I just had a patient in labor a week or two ago who had recently moved to our area from D.C. They somehow knew this family and were telling the anesthesiologist all about it as he was putting in her epidural.

That's amazing- she still wanted one after that.???

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Specializes in ER.

The epidural, the second one, was lying in the bed and the anesthesiologist just hooked it back up. It was contaminated-and had an open end to the patient. That seems like the most likely source to me. What a shame.

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Specializes in NICU.
That's amazing- she still wanted one after that.???

Tell me about it.

I am terrified of epidurals. I'm sure someday when I'm in full-blown labor, I'll forget my fears and beg for one. But at this point in my life, it is not on my imaginary birth plan. I've had many kidney stones - pain is something I've learned to deal with. I know it's a different kind of pain, but the thought of someone poking a huge needle into my back an inducing paralysis is NOT something that interests me in the least.

I'm probably being naive about the pain of childbirth.

But women have given birth without them for generations. I hope to be one of them!

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Specializes in NICU.
The epidural, the second one, was lying in the bed and the anesthesiologist just hooked it back up. It was contaminated-and had an open end to the patient. That seems like the most likely source to me. What a shame.

Yeah, did I not read it thorougly enough, or did they not mention this when they started talking about her infection? That is immediately where my mind went. They should have pulled the catheter and given her broad-spectrum IV antibiotics immediately after discovering the disconnection.

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I will NOT have an epidural next time if i am able to. I have fibromyalgia now and I am in pain every second of my life, so its nothing new to me.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

I saw this on Dateline last night. Very tragic indeed. When I heard the 2nd epi had come disconnected, was lying on the bed and then just reconnected, I thought, uh oh. Very sad.

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