A woman woke up with paraplegia following urological surgery in Ermont in the Val d’Oise last January. His handicap is said to be the result of a medical error made by the anesthesiologist.
Victim of a medical error when she had to undergo a simple urological intervention in Ermont in the Val d’Oise, Nathalie became paraplegic last January. Upon receiving a dose of anesthetic, the anesthetist mistakenly administers a strong antibiotic into the spinal cord. The result was immediate: she fell into a coma and stayed there for six days, says RTL. What was to be a brief operation changed her life forever. “I couldn’t hear anything, I couldn’t see very well and didn’t speak well at all,” she recalls.
Paraplegia is one of the forms of spinal cord injury. It is also called “severe spinal cord injury”. This lesion is found in the lumbar vertebrae or the lower thoracic spine. Concretely, a paraplegic person no longer has any motor skills or sensitivity in the lower part of his body (under the bust). It loses its muscular activity, but also its so-called “vegetative” functions, such as the bladder or the colon. Sexual activity is also strongly disrupted.
“This anesthesiologist took away my freedom. Before I ran, I wanted to prepare for a marathon. For me, it’s over.” Nathalie decided to take legal action against the anesthesiologist. His lawyer is expected to file a criminal complaint for violence and unintentional injuries in the coming days. “I know the money will not bring me back my legs, but it will at least allow me to arrange my house.”
Physical activity, the key to progress
Last February, dhe researchers at the University of Louisville in the United States have shown how physical rehabilitation of paraplegic people can also improve their bladder function and sexual activity.
The patients received the following physical training: walking on a treadmill with their weight supported, and standing exercise, in a frame provided for this purpose. Each person, throughout the study, was asked to complete questionnaires on bladder, bowel function and sexual activity. Over time, patients reported that their incontinence decreased, their bowel function improved. And their sexual desire increased.
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