Indiana Medical Malpractice Attorneys for Retained Foreign Object After Carotid Angioplasty and Stent Placement
All surgery carries some form of risk. However, when a patient thinks about surgical risks they don’t often think of physician and surgical team errors or surgical items being left inside of their bodies. Retained foreign objects or retained surgical bodies are the terms used to refer to any number of surgical tools and supplies that are forgotten or left inside of a patient’s body after surgery. These items could include surgical towels, sponges, clamps, screws, pins, scalpels, catheters, tubes, needles and a variety of other surgical instruments. Not surprisingly, retained surgical items can cause serious health outcomes for the patient including severe pain, infections, and even death.
Surgeons and medical personnel must follow proper procedures to avoid making preventable errors that could have a life-threatening impact on patients. One of those procedures is to complete an instrument count on surgical items both before and after a procedure. Failure to complete an instrument count can lead to retained foreign objects inside a patient. Another possible reason for surgical items to be left inside a patient’s body could be the need for a quick response by the surgical team to stabilize and treat a patient. When procedures are rushed mistakes can be made including leaving surgical items inside of a patient.
Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting
The carotid artery is a large artery that runs along each side of your neck. It is a blood vessel that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the brain. If blood flow is restricted, serious injuries including cardiac arrest, stroke, and death may occur. Plaque buildup can restrict blood flow within vessels and can often be treated once identified. An angiogram is a diagnostic medical procedure that is used to identify blockages and assess blood flow throughout blood vessels. When blockages are discovered, angioplasty and stenting may be performed to restore blood flow. Stents are wire mesh devices that can be used to support and keep blood vessels from collapsing. While this may sound like a straight-forward procedure, all medical procedures carry some form of risk. Doctors have a duty to discuss medical risks and benefits with their patients so that patients can make an informed decision about their medical care.
Retained Foreign Object Medical Malpractice Claim
Our medical malpractice attorneys represented a patient whose case involved a vascular surgeon’s failure to remove the complete catheter sheath during a carotid angiogram and stenting procedure. During removal of the device, a 6cm piece of the catheter sheath broke off and the surgeon failed to inform the patient. Nearly two years later, the catheter traveled down the patient’s artery causing an occlusion of the popliteal artery and pain behind the patient’s knee. A radiologist then failed to identify the 6 cm retained piece of catheter. Ultimately the patient underwent surgery to remove the foreign body and bypass the damaged artery. The case was heard by a medical review panel which unanimously found that the vascular surgeon committed malpractice.
Retained Foreign Object Catheter Lawsuit
If you or someone you know was seriously injured due to a medical professional error of leaving a foreign object in your body after a surgery, contact us. Our medical malpractice attorneys have litigated cases against surgeons and hospital systems across the state of Indiana. There is no fee for your initial consultation and we do not collect fees until your claim is paid. Contact us now to discuss your legal rights and options.
