Did Post-op Narcotic Overdose Cause Patient's Memory Loss?

Another reason to avoid narcotics for post-op pain management: You can get sued over them, as a hospital in Davenport, Iowa, can attest.

Edward Hanssen, who underwent knee surgery at a Genesis Health System facility in Davenport, Iowa, in 2007 contends that excessive post-op pain medication led to the memory loss he has experienced since.

Following surgery, court records show, orthopedic surgeon Matthew Lindaman, MD, prescribed Oxycontin and Oxycodone to help Mr. Hanssen manage his pain. During Dr. Lindaman's morning rounds 2 days later, Mr. Hanssen informed the surgeon that he had not slept well and was experiencing pain. Dr. Lindaman increased Mr. Hanssen's dosage of Oxycontin and prescribed Xanax as well. Later that day, Mr. Hanssen's wife, Connie Hanssen, grew concerned that her husband "acted very lethargic" and asked a nurse not to give him any more pain medication, according to court documents.

At 3:15 p.m. that day, Dr. Lindaman discontinued the 20mg of Oxycontin he earlier prescribed, substituting a 10mg dose along with 1 to 2 tablets of Oxycodone every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Dr. Lindaman issued this new order after a nurse reported Mr. Hanssen's lethargy. At 11:25 p.m. that evening, a nurse assessed Mr. Hanssen as being "not oriented to time" and "lethargic." Court records indicate that Mr. Hanssen's oxygen saturation dropped to 55% on room air. The nurse placed him back on oxygen, increasing his saturation level to 92% and encouraging him to take deep breaths.

The following day, Ms. Hanssen learned from a nurse's aide that her husband had fallen twice in the bathroom during the night. Dr. Lindaman soon diagnosed Mr. Hanssen with narcotic aspiratory depression. The Hanssen family's physician also visited the hospital and told the family he believed that Mr. Hanssen had experienced a narcotic overdose. Shortly after being discharged that evening, Mr. Hanssen's heart began to race and he experienced severe sweating, according to court records. The Hanssens returned to the hospital, where an ER doctor told the family that Mr. Hanssen had been overmedicated.

The Hanssens claim Mr. Hanssen "has trouble remembering driving directions and worries about the impact of memory lapses on his employment," according to court records. They filed suit in 2009. The Iowa Court of Appeals recently ruled that the case could continue because the 2-year statute of limitations hadn't been breached.

Attorneys for Mr. Hanssen and Genesis Health System did not respond to requests for comment.

Mark McGraw