Anesthesiologist Sued for Wrong Site Surgery

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A 53-year-old man presented to the ED by EMS as a stroke activation.

He had left hemibody paralysis and neglect.

CT ruled out intracranial hemorrhage.

He received a rapid neurology consult during the stroke activation.

tPA was given and the patient was taken to the ICU.

Imaging confirmed a large right MCA stroke.

The next morning, the patient had declined.

During ICU rounds, a consult was put in for neurosurgery.

The ICU staffed noted that his left-side deficits had not improved.

They also grew concerned that he had now developed right-side deficits.

It became clear that the patient had undergone a left-side craniectomy and anterior temporal lobectomy, instead of the right side.

The records do not describe who realized the mistake, but regardless, the neurosurgeon was notified and returned to the bedside.

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