Table 5.

Case characteristics in nonspine orthopaedic anesthesia malpractice claims for respiratory depression and respiratory arrests in the postoperative period*

Factor	Number (%)
Age (years), mean ± SD	56 ± 14
Male	12 (52)
ASA physical status 1–2 (generally healthy) (n = 22)	11 (50)
Preoperative conditions
Sleep apnea (n = 16)	10 (63)
Obesity (n = 19)	13 (68)
Procedure
TKA	11 (48)
THA/revision	4 (17)
Other lower extremity procedures†	5 (22)
Upper extremity surgery‡	3 (13)
Timing of respiratory event
Day of surgery	8 (35)
Postoperative day 1	14 (61)
Postoperative day 2	1 (4)
Postoperative opioids given§
Morphine	14 (61)
Hydromorphone	12 (52)
Meperidine	4 (17)
Other opioids	9 (39)
Patient received opioids through two or more modalities	16 (70)
Modality of postoperative opioids
Patient-controlled analgesia	17 (74)
Intravenous	16 (70)
Block	6 (26)
Oral	3 (13)
Transdermal	2 (9)
Intramuscular	1 (4)
Severity of injury
Death (9)	14 (61)
Permanent severe brain damage (6–8)	3 (13)
Only temporary or minor injury (0–5)	6 (26)
Liability
Anesthesia payment was made‖	7 (30)
Median payment (2015 USD)‖	USD 241,653
Payment range	USD 12,100–USD 513,000

*N = 23 unless stated otherwise; missing data excluded; ^†other lower extremity procedures included: two knee arthroscopic procedures and three fracture repairs; ^‡upper extremity procedures included: one rotator cuff repair, one biceps tendon repair, and one fracture repair; ^§opioids sum to greater than 100% because 15 patients received more than one opioid; other opioids consisted of fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, acetaminophen/oxycodone, and other unspecified opioids; ^‖claims paid and median payments include payments by anesthesiologist and anesthesiologist’s corporation; claims included no information on payments by surgeons; ASA = American Society of Anesthesiologists.