They did a c-section without anesthesia

Nefertari1279 · Jul 27, 2008

"Post-op, the 18-yr-old primip pt did fine, didn't seem traumatized or even seem to realize that what happened was not normal, from what I heard"

Poor thing was most likely in shock, I'm glad Mom and Baby are "ok" but something about this just doesn't seen right.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2008

Heh. I work in a tiny CAH that, as has been said, "stabilizes and ships."

We use mid-levels - I'd never heard of them until I moved from NYS - and you get a doc for an MI or CVA.

tbeemantx · Jul 30, 2008

I have had this happen as well with an anesthesiologist. It was my case and the pt was obviously hysterical. She was given a Versed cocktail to make sure she forgot the whole incident, but all of us in the OR knew what was happening. It was a new anesthesia group, but still inexcusable. In my opinion, it was the OB doc that was responsible as she continued to cut regardless of what the pt was screaming. Eventually, the general anesthesia kicked in and the c/s continued after a brief pause at the anesthesiologist's request. It was ridiculous.

jwk · Jul 30, 2008

I have had this happen as well with an anesthesiologist. It was my case and the pt was obviously hysterical. She was given a Versed cocktail to make sure she forgot the whole incident, but all of us in the OR knew what was happening. It was a new anesthesia group, but still inexcusable. In my opinion, it was the OB doc that was responsible as she continued to cut regardless of what the pt was screaming. Eventually, the general anesthesia kicked in and the c/s continued after a brief pause at the anesthesiologist's request. It was ridiculous.

That's called an impatient OB doc - nothing to do with the anesthesiologist.

Jill10191130 · Aug 2, 2008

At the small rural hospital where I used to work, we had a case where a section was done without anethesia. There was a mixup with the CRNA's on call. There was a stat section and baby was dieing. I think first hearttones were inthe 60's. They told the mother that they could do it without anethesia and attempt to save the baby or they could wait on anethesia. She said "do it". They said she lay her arms out and told them to cut her. Nurses layed over her arms, upper body, and legs while he cut. Baby survived. Mom was later transferred to a large high risk facility because she ended up having some type of rare, life threatening disorder or pregnancy that wasn't caught up until this happened with the baby. Last I heard, both mom and baby were doing well though. I work in a much larger facility now. Sometimes I wonder how I worked there so long. There was so much risk involved that I didn't see at the time.

cmhueto · Jul 7, 2009

I know this is an old forum...but I'm an RN...and I had this experience as a pt. My epidural wasn't sufficent, it didn't deaden anything...and when the ob started to cut I felt a hot burning pain unlike anything I could even imagine prior to this event. I was given some versed too, but it only blocked a few moments, and then afterward the anethesia staff left the OR while I was still writhing in pain. They transferred me to my room and according to my medical records it took another one and a half hours for them to start setting up my pca...and in that time no pain meds were given. After being transferred to postpartum with meds!! of course the dr's and midwife came by to check on me but not once did they explain why they left me in such excruciating pain. It was the elephant in the room. Apparently they thought the versed worked. I was angry, felt abandoned by those suppose to take care of me, and felt passed over like I was ignorant...but they knew I was an RN! I know they could have used a local, but later it was explained that once the ob started cutting that nothing could have been done at that point. bull----. My baby is 4 months old and healthy, but my birthexperience was a nightmare, Ive since asked the hospital to compensate by not charging me the anethsia, and they've taken the whole bill away. I would maybe do more but I work for the same hospital! I definitly have a better understanding of pain and empathise more with my pt's now. I don't make them wait for pain meds for sure! But there are many nights I can't sleep, that the whole experience comes back...I'm seeking therapy of course..it isn't going to be an easy thing to "get over".

edowhitetop · Jul 8, 2009

Never experienced C-section without anesthesia but do understand the idea as I did experience the extraction of a wisdom tooth without anesthesia. They had shot me up with novocaine but the instant they started pulling it became evident that it had not hit the right spot. The dentist noticed that I reacted and asked if I needed something. I did not want to sit for several minutes with a tooth part-way out while we waited for a new series of shots to take effect. So I said "no" and he finished pulling the tooth.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2009

You're kidding, right?
There are areas of the country where a single CRNA might cover 5 rural hospitals in 5 different counties.
There are still areas of the country where an FP delivers babies instead of an OB doc. Why does this still happen?
The better question is "Why should a hospital that only delivers a few babies a week or even a month be allowed to offer OB services at all?"

What about emergency surgeries where seconds count with no time to transport????

Anesthesia is not just about babies and c-sections.

Yes, I agree fully....every hospital should at minimum, have a CRNA PHYSICALLY PRESENT 24/7.

If it's too expensive for the hospital...then it just falls under the category of too freaking bad.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jul 9, 2009

EVERYBODY wants 24/7 coverage. Its not because the hospital is being cheap - its because there aren't enough providers who want to work in rural areas. Even in the larger hospitals, coverage is always an issue. As long as you're going to conjure up some anesthesia providers, make us some physicians and nurses for reservations, nursing homes and all remote areas with human habitation.

dcampbell · Jul 10, 2009

So many things about this bothers me.

To have three RN's holding a patient down sounds like assault to me.

This young woman was of legal age (18 years old), and of sound mind, we assume. I am sure she loves her baby but she should have been able to make her own choices about what was being done to her body.

The OB was probably worried about liability if the baby was injured but, to me, she should have been more concerned about this patient's rights. I am sorry, but if it is between the mother and the baby, the mother should have some say-so. She is not just an incubator. What really tops this off for me is that three RN's held this patient down while the doctor sewed up without anesthesia--WHY? Turn this situation around and make it a 60 year old man being forced to have a CABG without anethesia because the doctor felt that he needed it done quickly.

I am an OB nurse--NICU too, so I get the whole save the baby at all costs thing. But this mother had rights.

What would I have done? I am not sure, but I would not have assalted this mother by holding her down, especially while she was being sewed up, all of the nurses could have stated that they would not continue to hold this patient down until SOME sort of pain medication was given, at least for the sewing up (for the love of Pete!!). Would we just do ANYTHING a doctor told us to do?

Yes I care about the baby, but it was still the mother's choice, not all women would want everything done for the baby if that included major surgery without pain medication--not nice, but a fact.

BTW, I worked at, and had my firstborn at, a hospital without 24/7 anesthesia coverage. After hearing this, I will make sure my firstborn delivers at a hospital with 24/7 anesthesia coverage--GEEZ!