Anesthesiologist’s Negligence Results in Permanent Injuries to Fibromyalgia Patient

ByCody Porcoro

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Updated onNovember 1, 2017

Anesthesiologist’s Negligence Results in Permanent Injuries to Fibromyalgia Patient

This case involves a 46-year-old woman who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and began seeing an anesthesiologist. The patient did not respond well to multiple pain medications prescribed so the physician decided to use a spinal stimulator. The spinal stimulator was inserted at the physician’s office and the patient was instructed to return the following week to have the device removed. Immediately following the procedure the patient began to experience pain at the site of the wound and the following morning she noticed signs of infection including redness and swelling. After the symptoms progressed over the next two days, the patient called the physician’s office to report the symptoms. However, he dismissed her concerns and reassured her that her symptoms should subside within a few days. The patient returned to the physician’s office the following week where the physician observed her severely infected surgical wound. However, he did not prescribe antibiotics. Three days after consulting the physician, the patient was taken to the emergency room in septic shock. She eventually recovered but suffered severe injuries and must permanently use a wheelchair.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Do you use spinal stimulators? If so, how often?

2. Is infection a common complication of this procedure?

3. What measures should be taken to prevent infections from occurring?

Expert Witness Response E-007563

inline imageI have implanted spinal stimulators for 11 years at Johns Hopkins. Infection is not common and the procedure should be performed under sterile conditions to reduce the risk of infection.

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