What is Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction?
Surgery is a grueling experience, and even the healthiest patients need down time to recover. But few patients expect to suffer cognitive decline after surgery. Their families are surprised when a loved one manifests confusion, memory loss, and other cognitive dysfunction after going under the knife.
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a recognized medical problem which affects countless patients. Although not always preventable, some cognitive problems are the result of inadequate medical care, including anesthesia errors. Call Pita Weber Del Prado to speak with an established medical malpractice law firm. You might be able to sue your medical providers, including the anesthesiologist.
Signs You Are Suffering from Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction
Mental or psychological problems post-surgery have been recognized since the 19th Century. Some of the most common signs of POCD are:
- Short-term memory loss
- Difficulty learning or retaining new information
- Problems expressing or understanding language
- Reduced ability to recognize emotion in others
- Impaired visual perception
- Reduced executive function
- Distraction and loss of attention
- Delirium
Doctors diagnose POCD primarily by comparing a patient’s pre- and post-operative function. For example, if a person who spoke normally suddenly struggles forming words, then they are suffering some form of post-operative problem. Doctors can also use various tests to measure a patient’s ability to memorize or process new information.
Are Medical Errors to Blame for Your POCD?
Suffering cognitive decline after surgery is terrifying. Patients and their family members fear that the difficulties won’t be temporary.
Unfortunately, doctors are not entirely sure of the mechanism which produces cognitive decline after surgery. They see POCD more commonly in those who had problems with alcohol or suffered from depression before surgery. But anyone could suffer cognitive decline.
Can you sue your doctor if a loved one manifests symptoms of POCD? It really depends on the facts.
Not all negative side effects of surgery are the result of malpractice—but some are. Your medical team could have given too much anesthesia or made other critical mistakes during surgery which have resulted in brain injury. As a result, the patient suffers from memory loss and other cognitive dysfunction.
Typically, we want to carefully review your medical records to determine if a mistake was made which could have contributed to POCD. Concerned family members should also write down the symptoms they see in their loved ones. Often, we receive phone calls from spouses or children when a beloved family member is struggling after surgery. We are happy to meet with you to discuss what is happening and analyze the legal issues.
Schedule a Consultation Today
At Pita Weber Del Prado, our goal is to hold doctors and other medical professionals accountable when their failure to follow the standard of care results in injury. Do not minimize memory problems or other psychological changes after surgery. They could be signs you were injured by a preventable mistake in the operating theater. Contact us today. Our Miami anesthesia errors lawyer can meet for a free, confidential consultation to discuss if a medical malpractice lawsuit is the right choice for you.
Source:
news-medical.net/health/What-is-Post-Operative-Cognitive-Decline.aspx
