Family Sues After Woman Dies From Mistake At Military Hospital

lucky4timesover · May 12, 2005

The only thing that comes to mind is how completely horrible this is. I can't begin to express the sorrow that I feel for that family. The child mentioned at the end is a tragedy as well. Really, I have no words to express the shock or sadness.

live4today, RN · May 12, 2005

Wow! How sad and tragic for that family. :crying2: I hope they win their lawsuit.

I wonder if that anesthesiologist is still practicing? :stone

AndSleeep! · May 12, 2005

That is very sad..just thinking what if that were my family

The CRNA obviously needs to be looked at... practice, documentation, knowledge base, circumstances, etc. I would like to know if it was pure neglect that caused this tragic thing or if it is system error (education or facility). I would hate to jump to conclusions. :uhoh21: :chair:

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · May 12, 2005

When an epidural is being put in I thought we always had a bag-valve mask at the bedside for just this sort of problem. That woman would be fine if they had been prepared.

CarVsTree · May 12, 2005

When an epidural is being put in I thought we always had a bag-valve mask at the bedside for just this sort of problem. That woman would be fine if they had been prepared.

What about the cardiac arrest? Can you restart an anesthetized heart? I don't know much about anesthesia's effect on the heart, if you can't tell.

AndSleeep! · May 12, 2005

What about the cardiac arrest? Can you restart an anesthetized heart? I don't know much about anesthesia's effect on the heart, if you can't tell.

And how could someone make such a big mistake. How do you anesthetize the heart? Anatomy..seems impossible. I dont know much about anesthesia too.

pricklypear · May 12, 2005

I have a question - how did a baby get carbon dioxide instead of O2?:uhoh21: We don't have CO2 tanks hanging around our unit. Do they in a NICU?

SheaTab · May 12, 2005

OMG... horrific! I'm not sure how you could anesthetize a heart either. I mean... sure a diaphragm.. but the heart muscle displays automaticity. However, being that I'm not a CRNA/MDA, who knows. I've just never heard of this being a risk.

On the CO2 thing... I have never seen a CO2 tank?!?!?! If anyone has any clues, please help. How could that happen? T.

Lambert5883 · May 12, 2005

OMG... horrific! I'm not sure how you could anesthetize a heart either. I mean... sure a diaphragm.. but the heart muscle displays automaticity. However, being that I'm not a CRNA/MDA, who knows. I've just never heard of this being a risk.
On the CO2 thing... I have never seen a CO2 tank?!?!?! If anyone has any clues, please help. How could that happen? T.

When I was an OR tech in the military years ago, I vaguely remember O2 and C02 in the same type canister, but color coded (with large white labeling) to discern the difference (Seoul, Korea). Very tragic and downright shameful on the patient's circuitous flight to Fl.

SmilingBluEyes · May 12, 2005

Wow this is horrible, just horrible. I am so sorry for that family.

fourbirds4me · May 13, 2005

I have worked at my facility for about 2 years now. Twice a pt has coded and required resuscitation and emergency c/s during/after epidural. Both times due to an epidural placed in the wrong space. Good outcomes with both pts. Thank God I wasn't there for either case. I think one case required chest compressions as well as ventilation and the other case only ventilation.

I think in this case that it's not so much that this happened to this lady during this procedure... because after all it is a risk of the procedure... but how it was handled afterward.... absolutely unreal... but having been a military wife and living in a military town... absolutely believable!