Daniel E. Holloway
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Piedmont Hospital complaint alleges wrong-site nerve block before foot drop

The complaint alleges that a patient admitted to Piedmont Hospital for left-foot surgery received a right popliteal nerve block for postoperative pain control. The intended surgical site was the left foot, but the anesthesiologist administered the nerve block to the right lower extremity. Hospital staff failed to conduct a proper time-out procedure to verify the site before the block, and the patient later was diagnosed with right foot drop and numbness.

System
Piedmont Healthcare
Facility
Piedmont Hospital
Providers involved
Piedmont Hospital, Inc. / Suzana Anic, M.D. / American Anesthesiology of Georgia, LLC
Pattern
Alleged wrong-site popliteal nerve block before left-foot surgery
Harm
Alleged right foot drop, numbness, and functional impairment

Overview

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a patient at Piedmont Hospital received a nerve block on the wrong lower extremity before left-foot surgery.

Chronology

The complaint alleges as follows:

  1. The patient was admitted to Piedmont Hospital on April 28, 2023 for left-foot surgery to treat hallux rigidus.
  2. An anesthesiologist administered a right popliteal nerve block for postoperative pain control at about 2:30 p.m.
  3. The surgeon was informed that the block had been performed on the wrong lower extremity.
  4. The intended surgery on the left foot was completed later that day.
  5. The patient was diagnosed with right foot drop and numbness after the procedure.

Alleged failures

The complaint alleges the following failures:

  • The anesthesiologist administered the nerve block to the right leg instead of the intended left leg.
  • Nursing staff failed to properly monitor the surgical site and permitted a block on the wrong side.
  • The defendants failed to conduct a proper time-out procedure to verify the surgical site.
  • The complaint characterizes the alleged failures as gross negligence and reckless disregard for patient safety.

Entities and tags

Piedmont HospitalPiedmont Hospital, Inc.Suzana Anic, M.D.American Anesthesiology of Georgia, LLCPopliteal nerve blockNerve blockFoot dropHallux rigidusTime-out procedureSurgical errorAnesthesia and airwayAnesthesiologyOrthopedic surgeryPerioperative care