Post-Operative Vision Loss Malpractice

On their spines, patients who undergo surgery are not usually aware of the risk of associating vision loss with procedures that are extensive, which require no less than six hours of anesthesiology.

Also referred to as ischemic neuropathy, postoperative vision loss happens when there’s damage to the optic nerve because of an extensive period in the blood of a patient for reduced oxygen.

The acting anesthesiologist is responsible for monitoring oxygen levels and blood pressure of the patient during surgery. This is due to this condition with patients rarely being discussed as among operative risks before surgery.

Patients who sustain postoperative vision loss have the ability to file a postoperative vision loss malpractice lawsuit.

The duration of time for the procedure, the positioning of the patient, and methods considered to restrict loss of blood during an operation are all part of ischemic neuropathy.

Surgeries to the spine may take a minimum of six hours, and due to the patient being positioned on the stomach, the pressure downward on the chest may limit the supply of blood which returns to the heart.

Add it to the bloodstream with a combination of fluids, as over time the patient loses blood, can reduce the oxygen amount, which the blood transports to the brain.

Not yet fully known to science for some reason, the brain has the ability to boost cerebral flow of the blood to compensate for a reduced supply of oxygen. However, the optic nerve fails to receive any of the supply of increased blood, which can leave the nerve lifeless.

Post operative vision loss can be preventable, if the patient is correctly monitored, and necessary steps are taken to make certain that levels of oxygen in the blood do not decrease to levels, which can cause harm to the optic nerve, or various vital systems.

Operations of the spine, which last over six hours, more than any other procedure can result in a likelihood of risk of postoperative vision loss.

During the procedure, in the incident that a patient loses over a liter of blood, there can be an increase of risk of vision loss.

However, these risks are not discussed with patients too often prior to operations. Monitoring that is diligent can entirely prevent vision loss.

After a spinal surgery, any patient who sustains vision loss from ischemic neuropathy can file a lawsuit for postoperative vision loss malpractice.

When anesthesiologists and surgeons are zealous to depict postoperative vision loss as merely another likely surgical side effect, this can result in many causes, usually a medical error that should’ve been preventable.

When surgeons, physicians, and other medical professionals neglect to take the necessary precautions to prevent fluid buildup or optical pressure, or enable long-term anemia and hypertension, depriving oxygen in the eye, then these medical physicians may be guilty of postoperative vision loss malpractice.

Contact us for a free consultation or call Anzalone Law Firm PLLC, at: 603.548.3797