Hospital Suspects Intracranial Pressure Complication
Bereaved Family Claims 'Anesthetic Cream' as Cause
A woman in her 20s from China suddenly died while undergoing laser treatment to remove a mole on her skin. It was reported that she went into shock and passed away while applying anesthetic cream.
On the 25th (local time), Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a 27-year-old woman identified as Ms. A, living in Tianjin, visited a dermatology clinic to remove a milk spot and suffered a fatal shock.
Ms. A had already undergone laser treatments nine times before. She was planning her 10th laser procedure at the time. While anesthetic cream was being applied on the operating table, Ms. A suddenly complained of dizziness. Medical staff immediately removed the cream, but Ms. A had already gone into shock, experienced convulsions, and suffered cardiac arrest. The medical team promptly transferred her to another hospital, but she ultimately passed away ten days later.
According to the medical investigation, Ms. A's cause of death is presumed to be excessive intracranial pressure and related complications. Intracranial pressure refers to the pressure exerted by fluids within the skull and brain tissue.
However, Ms. A's family claims negligence on the part of the hospital that performed the procedure. Ms. A's mother pointed out that during the previous nine laser treatments, the anesthetic cream was not applied evenly, causing Ms. A to experience dizziness and pain. Ms. A's husband also asserted that an allergic reaction occurred due to excessive use of anesthetic cream by the hospital.
The hospital responded, "The anesthetic cream was used according to standard regulations," but added, "If negligence is proven, we will take full responsibility." This incident quickly spread on China's social networking service (SNS) Weibo, becoming a hot topic among local netizens.
Meanwhile, the anesthetic cream used during Ms. A's laser procedure is a local anesthetic. It temporarily blocks the nerves that transmit sensations, numbing the area of the procedure. It is used to reduce pain before simple procedures such as laser treatments and hair removal.
Local anesthetics are generally safe. However, side effects can occasionally occur, and excessive use of local anesthetics is reported to potentially affect the central nervous system and cardiovascular system.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
