A scenario likely common in the nightmares of dental patients became the devastating reality for a 25-year-old San Diego man earlier this month. He died during his wisdom teeth extraction.
Marek Lapinski, the vice president and part owner of San Diego-based Tactical 3D Dimensions, had voiced concern over the March 21 procedure with Dr. Steven Paul in Temecula to his sister. "He was so scared to get this done," Natalie Lapinski told FOX5. "That morning, he texted me and said 'I'm going in. I'll call you when I'm out.' I never heard from him again."
The complications began mid-surgery when Marek began to cough. In response, medical staff administered propofol, causing the patient to go into cardiac arrest. Marek was rushed to the hospital, where he died. A piece of gauze was found in his airway.
"I was told by the hospital they weren't sure if this was all caused from him choking on a piece of gauze," Marek's mother, April Lapinski, said. "Somebody was not paying attention at some point."
Marek, who had no medical issues that the family was aware of, was given at least six different sedatives by the surgeon. Natalie talked to a nurse at the hospital, who said Marek "was given way too much anesthesia." The pulmonary doctor at the hospital told April Marek's death "looked like an overdose to him."
In addition to the apparent overabundance of sedatives, medical records also show that Marek "may have been without oxygen for 10 minutes," said Natalie. Per FOX5:
Medical records show instruments measured of Marek’s oxygen saturation levels every five minutes. For the first 20 minutes of surgery, levels stayed at 99 percent. At 25 minutes, there was no register. At the last entry registered at 43 percent.
The official cause of Marek's death is pending autopsy, and his family plans to take legal action.
Via: LAist
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