Sammanfattning
BACKGROUND: There has been a steady increase in cases reported to the Norwegian System of Patient Injury Compensation (NPE). We wished to look into what
might characterise those cases of central and peripheral nerve blockade for anaesthesia that led to compensation claims.
MATERIAL AND METHOD: Cases with codes for central and peripheral blockade within the field of anaesthesiology were retrieved from the NPE database for the
period 2001-14. The cases were evaluated on the basis of variables including sex, age, type of anaesthesia, diagnosis, type of injury, site of injury, damages
received, and written descriptions of treatment and injury. The expert reports were anonymised and reviewed in detail.
RESULTS: A total of 339 patient compensation claims relating to nerve blockade were identified, of which 149 concerned spinal anaesthesia, 142 epidural
anaesthesia, 21 combined spinal and epidural anaesthesia and 27 peripheral nerve blockade. The group consisted of 236 women and 103 men, and the average
age was 46 years. The 339 cases comprised 0.8 % of all cases reported to the NPE in this period. A total of 107 claims resulted in compensation. Eighty-two
million Norwegian kroner were paid out in total.
INTERPRETATION: Peripheral and central nerve blockade accounts for only a small proportion of cases handled by the NPE. Only one in three applicants had their
claim upheld, but when claims were upheld, the injuries were often severe and led to substantial pay-outs.