Analysis of lawsuits on malpractice related to spinal anesthesia in Japan--change in the causes of anesthetic malpractice related to judicial precedents.

We investigated the adjustments related to spinal anesthesia in Japan. There were 23 cases. Seventeen cases resulted in death, 3 cases did in central nerve injury and 3 cases did in peripheral nerve injuries. In 17 cases whose origin was inadequate patient control, 15 patients were younger than 15 years old. In 14 cases in which the patient was younger than 15 years old, acute appendicitis was connected. Continuous monitoring is necessary to prevent malpractice during and after operation.