PACU Errors Caused by Kingston Medical Malpractice

Understanding PACU Errors Due to Kingston Medical Malpractice

One dangerous type of Kingston medical malpractice is a PACU error.  This is a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), which is where patients after surgery go to recover from the effects of the anesthesia.  Usually care here is 1 nurse per 2 patients, sometimes 1 to 1 in high risk cases.  Other times you may find 1 nurse per 3 or 4 patients.  The point is that there is usually a high concentration of nurses compared to patients, more so than on another floor.  This is because proper PACU care is critical to patients and is very important.  Thus medical malpractice due to PACU errors could be very serious.

There are a few reasons why PACU care must be so intense to avoid Kingston medical malpractice.  These reasons include the following:

• Patients just had surgery and are at a high risk for reacting to this trauma to the body;
• Anesthesia is very powerful, and complications can occur swiftly and be devastating;
• Patients are not conscious and cannot speak, therefore they cannot say if they are having trouble breathing or with oxygen which is why they must be carefully monitored;
• Bleeding can occur post-surgical both internally and on the skin which can result in very dangerous situations very quickly, especially if a stitch opens up for vital organs or massive incisions;
• Patient may react to steroids or antibiotics given at the conclusion of surgery to prevent reactions or infections;
• Massive swelling after a surgery could quickly occur and result in compartment syndrome; 
• Blood pressure could quickly drop after surgery and lead to a heart attack;
• Signs of blood clots such as a pulmonary embolism, heart attack, stroke, or other complication could occur due to the fact that there was a surgery; and
• Many other issues.

PACU errors by a hospital and nursing staff could be incredible dangerous.  They likely lead to fatal and wrongful deaths.  Staff and hospitals should be liable for these mistakes. But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.