aspirated death post surgery

Question

my 10 year old lab in excellent recentlt ruptured a disc.we took him to thehosopital were we gave them 7000.00 for the surgery.After the surgery the dr said everything went great and we should expect 90-100%recovery.We called to check in on him an hour laterr and was told they were giving biotics for possible aspirated pnuemonia.I am a respiratory therapist..I saw  the xray and it was almost completely white out. I asked for nebulizer or ventilation  due to the anout of work of breathing my dog was exsperiencing.both were denied saying it does not wwork the same  on dogs.he died 5 hours later.Iam concerned that aspiration occured during the surgery and post airway management. is it unlike  the same standerd of airway management for dogs that it is maintain during  and after extubation ,,including management and intensive care until the patient has full control of gag and swallow.. also positioning and suction.. any and all coverage to prevent such things.jjust because this was a dog i am hearing oh sorry but it happens..well in my line of work  it doesnt when it is done correctly ..please  what is your opinion

asarii · Answer

my daughter just lost her dog to the same thing. he went in to have his teeth cleaned and was dead in 48 hours! my daughter is crushed. she works for this vet office so what is she supposed to do? I want to launch an investigation but she is afraid she will lose her much needed job. it hurts everytime I talk to her because I can hear the loss and pain. someone told her one of the vet techs did not give her dog the necessary shot to empty his stomach so when they pulled the tube out he vomited a lot. I want her to hurry up and get in the anger phase of grief so we can tear these people a new one!!!!!!!

pjs400 · Answer

I really miss my dog. I would like to know when she got the aspiration pneumonia. Her Surgery went great. It had to have happened post op. I went to LSU because I wanted the best care for her. She walked in and came back in ashes. She was only 7. I  have paid $3,000 and received  a bill for $1,700 today. It is not about the money it is about the care. I feel the surgeon did a great job but what about after she left the OR. I am a nurse and I keep going over everything(over and over). It is so hard to understand.

skydnsr · Answer

I am so sorry.  That is just terrible.  This is a very hard time, but I hope that at some point you will be able to find peace.  I will be thinking about you and your dear pet.

LSUKim · Answer

I just lost my dog too after being treated at 
the LSU vet school too for pneumonia checked in
on Tuesday in oxygen cage, they bombarded her with
Antibiotics, used a nebulizer.... She was dead by Saturday AM.
Not the same as yours from aspiration pneumonia but 
I'm devastated.  Happened so fast

paula204 · Answer

I just lost my Wheaton terrier, Chelsey. She has surgery on a herniated dic c6,7.The surgery went great but she developed aspiration pneumonia and her white blood count dropped. She died 2 days after surgery and I am not doing well with this.. She was 7 yrs old and very healthy. I took her to LSU and she had 4 doctors taking are of her. I know I did everything I could for her. I don't know what went wrong. The antibioics did not help the pneumonia. They placed her on a ventilator and she coded twice and it was all over. I am a nurse and can't figure any of this out.              Paula

rinkiesel · Answer

Hi.  I'm sorry for your lost and am feeling the same way because I just lost a dog two days ago because she choked on her own vomit while in the ICU after she had an abcess drained from her abdomen.  And she was also suffering from pancreatitis and was lethargic.  A few hours later, I was told they were doing CPR because she had turned blue and had choked on her vomit.  I didn't question it at first but then started to wonder why she wasn't positioned in a way to prevent aspiration when they knew full well she had a tendency to vomit.  I was just wondering what happened to your case and if you found out at all the kind of standard post-op procedures done in dogs.  I'm just trying to find out if it was negligence on the vet's part or my dog was just truly too weak to expel out the vomit.

skydnsr · Answer

No, the money definitely is part of it.  I can understand that there are no guarantees on a surgical procedure, and I can understand that the doctor's office had expenses on the day of surgery, but to keep the entire $7000, just as if you had gotten a good result, seems wrong.  And if it should be the case that the surgery was not even competently performed, then it's beyond just inappropriate -- it's more on the level of fraud.  

I think that, at the very least, the doctor should sit down with you and thoroughly discuss everything, including why your dog died, how the aspiration happened, why the treatment "does not work the same way in dogs," and why he feels that he should get to keep your entire $7000.  You lost both your dog and $7000 in the blink of an eye.  If he doesn't even think that merits a sit-down, then something is wrong, right there.  And if 99.9% of these procedures go well (which I question, and especially so when you are talking about a 10 y/o Lab) then he would not be losing very much by making at least a partial refund.

If the doctor does agree to the sit-down, take a witness with you to the meeting so you have someone else there who knows what was said, and get copies of the x-rays and all documents, right then.  Otherwise, there is a very good chance that all records are going to be destroyed, including that nearly-all-white x-ray -- if they have not already been destroyed.  

I know I keep saying this, but I am so sorry.

kimmmmmm · Answer

i really  appreciate  your response.. I guess i was feeling a little guilty amongst all the other freaking emotions .. that  the money was pissing me off.. i would not have changed my decision even if i knew it would have only been a small chance ..but it wasnt .. the dr said 99.9% of these surgeries go great .... gr .. i have started a bit of a search on my options ,,and have spoken with someone in town i will meet with next week .. ill keep u posted .. i appreciate your responses .. i need the honesty from people .. whatever their perspective .. sometimes my feelings that i think are coming from obscurity  can be validated lol well at least i can get some bearing on whether that script for xanax is getting closer . much appreciated friend

skydnsr · Answer

I am so sorry.

kimmmmmm · Answer

they made us pay up front b4 they would even do mri,,the loan company which works with th vet in the hospital..is

skydnsr · Answer

They're keeping your $7000?  May I ask, did you sign a contract agreeing that it was nonrefundable?  And if you did not, have you talked to an attorney?  I think they have a tremendous amount of nerve to keep the entire amount, under the circumstances.  

Just ignore this post, if it upsets you.  I am so sorry about the loss of your dog.  It would not be my intention to upset you further.  But I'm also sorry about the loss of your $7000.  It is a terrible event, all the way around.  Just terrible.

chasha33 · Answer

I am so sorry for the loss of your baby.I know that this has to be really hard on youYour baby knew that you loved him and were trying to help him.I know that that does not help the hurt that you are feeling and what you are going to go through.You are going to go throug so many different stages.I still go through the What ifs and If only's and then there are times that i blame people for losing Chloe.After surgery they are to make sure that they DO have gag reflexes and are able to swallow on there on as they remove the tube.It does sound like your baby did develope the pnuemonia from the surgery.Usually they give a med to sedate them and then tube and then they do gas or whatever other med they use for the surgery.Telazol is what is given first.I lost my little girl from Telazol.She was in perfect health and was just getting her nails done.She had her nails done every 4-5months.They didnt really know what happened to her and it was so hard on me not knowing.She was my precious little girl.What has your vet said that they think happened to cause the pnuemonia?I know how hard it is when you need answers,I still have trouble with losing my baby.If you need to talk we are here for you.Take care and God Bless.You will be in my prayers.

kimmmmmm · Answer

thank you for your responses .. i am new to this  forum and feel i will benefit  greatly.... by the way the hospital just called to confirm they recieved ouor 7000.00 payment for the vet service and surgery .ugggggggggggggh  wouldnt have changed any decision in going ahead with .. knew what it would cost  but their timing ***** ..Keeping the faith!!!!!!!!!!

ginger899 · Answer

I wish I could help, but don't have veterinary experience. I really hope someone comes along here who has.
I know a little about aspiration pneumonia because my mother developed it towards the end of her life, when she was in hospital. She had dementia and difficulty swallowing.

If I were in your position I'd be asking those questions too. Yes it can happen. It's one of the risks associated with surgery. But for me it wouldn't quite be enough to say "it happens" I'd want to know the ins and outs of post-surgical care. Yet it is possible the vet did everything right, and this still developed. When something tragic happens, we want to examine, examine....all the facts, looking for clues to "why", looking for something to pin it on, to blame, if you like. That's natural. We all do that, and in your case you may have good reason.

I hope someone posts who knows exactly.

I am so sorry you lost your dog this way. Please accept my condolences.

Shanna707 · Answer

I'm not a vet or resp therapist so you probably know more that I do.  I am an RN so I understand the aspiration as it would apply to a human.  I really just want to say I dont have an opinion on how it happened, but I feel for your loss.  I lost a dog, ( a lab a matter a fact to cancer).  We had her almost 8 beautiful years and that is what I try to focus on.  It's been a few years, but I still cry for a moment at times and then I think of something very characteristic of her personality that she use to do and start to smile and the tears all dry up.  You were very lucky to have you dog and the special relationship you must of had.  If you've never lost a pet before, you will find that you go though all the same stages as with a dear human loved one.  So, keep support in your life while you work though this loss.  Medhelp is a good start.  You did all you could do!  It's not your fault.
Bless you,
S