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Woman says mother-in-law paralyzed after receiving potassium during surgery
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:11 pm
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:11 pm
Happened to 4 people who were getting total joint replacements at a hospital in Nashville
LINK
LINK
quote:
woman was left paralyzed following a medical mistake during a routine knee surgery at a Nashville hospital, and she’s not alone. “The joint replacement went wonderful. Her knee is great. The rest of her is not,” daughter-in law Kristina Dorton explained, adding that the situation is devastating given how active and fit her mother-in-law has always been.
quote:
News 2 received tips about patients who received injections of the wrong type of medicine at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown, so we started digging. News 2’s Kendall Ashman reached out to patients, as well as the hospital, and uncovered the extent of the medical mistake and the investigation it sparked. On Friday, Aug. 14, Dorton said her mother-in-law went in for a routine knee replacement at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown. Everything seemed normal for the healthy 72-year-old, until the surgical team realized they gave her the wrong medicine during spinal anesthesia. “It was supposed to be the anesthetic. It was supposed to be Bupivacaine, and it was potassium, and we don’t know what quantity,” Dorton said.
quote:
According to Dorton, when her mother-in-law woke up from surgery, she was sent to the intensive care unit. While the knee replacement was a success, her family is worried she may never actually be able to feel that knee or any part of her lower body again. “Currently, she has zero feeling, movement, or response to pain from her breastbone down. We don’t know what recovery looks like or if there is recovery,” Dorton said. However, Dorton’s mother-in-law was not the only patient affected. The hospital reported as many as four patients were impacted by this “event.” When News 2 reached out to the hospital about the tips involving other patients getting the wrong injections, we received a statement directly from the president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital’s Midtown and West campuses, Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, confirming the concerns.
quote:
Jagasia wrote, in part, “Our hearts are with the four patients and their families impacted by this event. On behalf of our leadership and care teams, I am deeply sorry for the harm caused to our patients.” 3 found unconscious on Broadway in downtown Nashville “We know that there are other patients that are involved. You can kind of feel the vibe in the waiting room, you know, it’s heavy. The doctors, it’s heavy with them,” Dorton said. Hospital officials did not confirm the other patients received injections of potassium instead of normal anesthetic, stating it would not provide any specific clinical details in order to protect patients’ privacy. According to Jagasia, Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown leaders have met directly with each of the families to express their support, connect them with spiritual care teams, and ensure they have access to all the resources and ongoing care needed.
17
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:14 pm to TechDawg2007
Yea, that’s not good. Either this is just a horrendously stupid individual or individuals, incorrect labeling of medication, or it’s another one of those Dr. Death medical assault type situations.
No matter which one, that hospital is gonna get sued to oblivion and back.
No matter which one, that hospital is gonna get sued to oblivion and back.
This post was edited on 8/19/26 at 12:15 pm
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:18 pm to Scruffy
quote:
Everything seemed normal for the healthy 72-year-old, until the surgical team realized they gave her the wrong medicine during spinal anesthesia. “It was supposed to be the anesthetic. It was supposed to be Bupivacaine, and it was potassium, and we don’t know what quantity,” Dorton said.
For it to happen in multiple situations in quick succession (potentially with different staff members), could definitely be a med labeling issue. Are the two similar in look/consistency?
This post was edited on 8/19/26 at 12:18 pm
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:18 pm to Scruffy
You are an md aren't you scruffy? Is it normal for someone getting a knee surgery to receive a
?
I guess this is for someone who doesn't want to go under?
quote:
spinal anesthesia.
?
I guess this is for someone who doesn't want to go under?
This post was edited on 8/19/26 at 12:19 pm
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:26 pm to Funky Tide 8
Not a surgeon, but think of it kinda like a c-section in that they can anesthetize the entire region, waist down.
Likely less overall anesthesia required, allowing for less side effects and faster recovery.
Northwestern is doing kidney transplants with only epidural anesthesia.
Significantly speeds up recovery time.
Likely less overall anesthesia required, allowing for less side effects and faster recovery.
Northwestern is doing kidney transplants with only epidural anesthesia.
Significantly speeds up recovery time.
This post was edited on 8/19/26 at 12:34 pm
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:36 pm to TechDawg2007
quote:
“It was supposed to be the anesthetic. It was supposed to be Bupivacaine, and it was potassium, and we don’t know what quantity,” Dorton said.
That is a failure on multiple levels, and I don't know the specific requirements of it, but it certainly seems like it should be charged as malpractice. To not only make the mistake of giving someone the wrong meds, but potassium isn't even an anesthesia, correct? And then on top of that, they can't even tell you the amount that was given. So I assume it was not logged anywhere? I know there are checks and balances within hospital systems to prevent shite like this, but this seems like it circumvented all of that.
So maybe it was intentional by some rogue employee? You'd almost have to hope that's the reason because otherwise it is incompetence at a very high level.
This post was edited on 8/19/26 at 12:40 pm
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:40 pm to Funky Tide 8
Spinal anesthesia became standard of care for total joints in recent years though there’s no real difference in outcomes from a general anesthetic.
Regarding labeling, vials of local anesthetic are not often kept in the same location as potassium. Potassium is mixed by pharmacy in normal saline bags and would not get confused with a local anesthetic like bupivicaine. Something screwy in that system and their statement
Regarding labeling, vials of local anesthetic are not often kept in the same location as potassium. Potassium is mixed by pharmacy in normal saline bags and would not get confused with a local anesthetic like bupivicaine. Something screwy in that system and their statement
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:43 pm to TechDawg2007
quote:
“The joint replacement went wonderful. Her knee is great. The rest of her is not,”
If she is paralyzed how can they really know.
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:44 pm to TechDawg2007
Well, that's kind of terrifying.
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:44 pm to TechDawg2007
quote:
the president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital’s Midtown and West campuses, Dr. Shubhada Jagasia,
So the best qualified to be president of a hospital is a ??????????? I do wonder what his resume would tell us.
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:44 pm to Funky Tide 8
Ive done many surgeries, including total knees, hips and shoulders. Anesthesiologist is ultimately responsible for everything that is injected into patient.
If a tech or nurse draw up an injection, the labels should be double checked.
One time is a horrible mistake. Four times, orobably more, is unforgivable. Hospital will be paying out some major losses.
I've seen worse though.....
Holy shite! This is horrible
If a tech or nurse draw up an injection, the labels should be double checked.
One time is a horrible mistake. Four times, orobably more, is unforgivable. Hospital will be paying out some major losses.
I've seen worse though.....
Holy shite! This is horrible
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:47 pm to Scruffy
A lot of older people are concerned about general anesthesia's effect on cognition.
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:49 pm to WAR TIGER
I don't know if it is the emerging standard but hospital I went in scanned literally everything. Even in the ER for an emergent life threatening situation. Obviously in the latter case it was just to document the drug info, but in the more controlled former it actually checked against the doctor orders.
Don't know if that would be the case in a surgical context as well.
Don't know if that would be the case in a surgical context as well.
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:51 pm to TechDawg2007
If this was a spinal delivered to the 4 patients, then they need to:
Inspect the kits that were used
Track what vials were used from the pyxsis (if that's where the 'Bupivacaine" was sourced)
Look at if there was a mix to be infused that was compounded in the pharmacy and sent to surgery...who compounded the mix?
Was it the same anesthesiologist/CRNA involved. Same OR?
I can't see a bottle of Bupivacaine being compromised unless it was a multi-dose vial left out somewhere in the OR or Anesthesia Cart and someone compromised it.
This should be pretty easy to figure out.
This sucks all around
Inspect the kits that were used
Track what vials were used from the pyxsis (if that's where the 'Bupivacaine" was sourced)
Look at if there was a mix to be infused that was compounded in the pharmacy and sent to surgery...who compounded the mix?
Was it the same anesthesiologist/CRNA involved. Same OR?
I can't see a bottle of Bupivacaine being compromised unless it was a multi-dose vial left out somewhere in the OR or Anesthesia Cart and someone compromised it.
This should be pretty easy to figure out.
This sucks all around
This post was edited on 8/19/26 at 12:53 pm
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:54 pm to Scruffy
quote:
Not a surgeon, but think of it kinda like a c-section in that they can anesthetize the entire region, waist down.
Likely less overall anesthesia required, allowing for less side effects and faster recovery.
Northwestern is doing kidney transplants with only epidural anesthesia.
Significantly speeds up recovery time.
Why don't they just use something like an epidural for knee replacement?
This post was edited on 8/19/26 at 12:58 pm
Posted on 8/19/26 at 12:55 pm to real turf fan
quote:
So the best qualified to be president of a hospital is a ??????????? I do wonder what his resume would tell us.
It is a woman endocrinologist with 36 years of experience. First studied at the 12th ranked medical school in India, then at UT Knoxville, and Vandy. Practices at Vandy and is licensed in both Tennessee and Alabama.
Posted on 8/19/26 at 1:05 pm to Scruffy
I broke my tib/fib and separated my ankle and they did this to me. Made what was supposed to be a painful recovery completely manageable. Besides the not being able to walk part.
Posted on 8/19/26 at 1:36 pm to i am dan
quote:
Why don't they just use something like an epidural for knee replacement?
Not my field. Sorry.
Posted on 8/19/26 at 1:45 pm to Scruffy
quote:
they can anesthetize the entire region, waist down.
Likely less overall anesthesia required, allowing for less side effects and faster recovery.
Northwestern is doing kidney transplants with only epidural anesthesia.
Significantly speeds up recovery time.
I'm officially worried as heck now, for an upcoming hip procedure. I did work in the industry as a rep years ago.
I have a hip from exactech , which has a recall on the cup liner. Having that done in Sept, getting ahead of the potential issues cause (cysts, etc)
Lifelong friend at LOS (Kyle) doing revision...he recommended spinal anesthesia, as being much easier post op recovery, same day, etc
Now, im not so sure. Have pre op next week, and will absolutely discuss. Just text him this article and said im allergic to potassium, lol
Had the equivalent of it last year on a biceps tendon repair....they did a shoulder block, and light anesthesia just to make me sleep. Worked fine, but arm was a dead fish for a day or 2, lol
Posted on 8/19/26 at 2:02 pm to TechDawg2007
quote:
the president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital’s Midtown and West campuses, Dr. Shubhada Jagasia
H1B?
quote:
According to Jagasia, Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown leaders have met directly with each of the families to express their support, connect them with spiritual care teams
That will for sure help them feel much better.
Meanwhile, the anesthesiologist won't be held accountable due to suffering from post-partum depression.
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