When Anesthesia Fails and the Patient Is Cut Open - The Daily Recap

Podcast: The Daily

Published: 2026-02-06

Duration: 31 minutes

Guests: Susan Burton

Summary

This episode explores the alarming prevalence of anesthesia failures during C-sections, leaving many women to endure significant pain during surgery. Susan Burton shares stories and research illustrating systemic issues in medical practice that often dismiss women's pain.

What Happened

Anesthesia failures during C-sections are more common than previously understood, leading women to experience significant pain during surgery. Susan Burton shares her investigation into these occurrences, starting with the case of a fertility clinic where fentanyl was replaced with saline, causing patients to endure surgeries without proper anesthesia. This prompted her to explore similar stories from women who felt pain during their C-sections, a major surgery often underestimated in its invasiveness.

One impactful case is that of Vanessa Lenner, who felt everything during her C-section despite voicing her concerns about the epidural not working properly. Her experience highlights the systemic failures in addressing patient pain and the power dynamics in operating rooms that often silence patients. Burton discusses how Vanessa's healthcare background made her aware of the procedural issues but did not prevent her from feeling dismissed by medical professionals.

The episode delves into the new research indicating that 8% of C-section patients experience significant pain, amounting to roughly 100,000 women annually in the U.S. alone. This pain is often mischaracterized as mere pressure, leading to a lack of acknowledgment and proper management of the patients' experiences.

Medical professionals also face challenges such as systemic issues in hospitals, power dynamics among staff, and the expectation that some discomfort is inevitable during C-sections. These factors contribute to the inadequate response to patient pain and the perpetuation of dismissive attitudes toward women's health concerns.

Recent studies, including a notable one published in Anesthesiology, aim to quantify the prevalence of pain during C-sections and explore solutions. The study highlights that patients with labor epidurals are more likely to experience pain compared to those with spinal anesthesia, sparking discussions on potential adjustments in medical protocols.

The episode underscores the cultural silencing of women's pain, where societal norms often prioritize the birth of a healthy baby over the mother's surgical experience. This cultural aspect may lead mothers to underreport their pain or accept it as a normal part of childbirth, impeding efforts to address the issue effectively.

Efforts to address these issues include identifying risk factors for pain, improving communication between doctors and patients, and considering the use of general anesthesia when necessary. The importance of empowering patients to speak up and ensuring medical teams listen actively is emphasized as crucial steps toward improving women's healthcare experiences.

Key Insights