September 25, 2008
The plaintiff was a resident of Lakehurst, New Jersey. He underwent a second spinal surgery on November 27, 2000. It was the plaintiff's contention that the defendant anesthesiologist utilized an anesthesia technique of induced hypotension, and that during the operative procedure the plaintiff's blood pressure was allowed to drop too low, causing an ischemic stroke to occur.
The plaintiff further contended that the defendant anesthesiologist failed to perform an appropriate preoperative evaluation, and failed to take into consideration in his anesthesia plan that the plaintiff suffered from hypertension, was obese, smoked and had other underlying cardiovascular problems that required his blood pressure to be higher during surgery. Further, the plaintiff took the position that he was not provided with adequate or timely blood replacement during the operative procedure, and that intraoperative monitoring of his condition was inadequate.
The defense denied that the induced hypotension was contraindicated, and took the position that the plaintiff suffered from only "white coat hypertension," and that his stroke was not due to negligence.
Lawyer John Ratkowitz resolved the case while awaiting a trial date.
For more information about ischemic strokes, click here.
