Fatal treatment error? Why did a child die shortly after anesthesia induction?

Teenager dies under anesthesia - the deceased should be autopsied

A few years ago, a 14-year-old boy died following an anesthetic induction in a hospital in Gütersloh (North Rhine-Westphalia). Police said the deceased should be autopsied.

Complications during anesthesia

A 14-year-old boy from Gütersloh in North Rhine-Westphalia died on Wednesday after the introduction of anesthesia. An employee of the St. Elisabeth Hospital had reported to the police and reported that there were complications in the narcotization of the adolescent. "Because of this, the boy was immediately transported to the Children's Hospital in Bielefeld Bethel," writes the police in a statement. There he died on Wednesday. Now it should be clarified whether a medical error or a possible previous illness led to the death of the boy. "As part of the ongoing investigation next Monday, the autopsy of the deceased," said the police.

Actually, anesthetics are very safe nowadays. But in Gütersloh there were complications in the initiation of narcotization of a boy, which led to the death of the teenager. (Image: torwaiphoto / fotolia.com)

How dangerous are narcosis?

Cases like Gütersloh can help fuel the widespread fear of anesthesia. Especially parents are often worried.

But how dangerous is anesthesia in the child really?

"Anesthesia is very safe nowadays. Modern anesthetics are well tolerated and quickly broken down by the body, so that your child quickly gets back on its feet, "it says on the website of the Children and Youth Hospital Auf der Bult in Hannover.

"However, depending on the size of the child's intervention and state of health, there is a low likelihood of complications and health hazards," say the experts.

The tragic death of the boy from Gütersloh was probably one of those rare cases. (Ad)