Medical Malpractice Lawyer Virginia Beach
Cardiac catheterization is one of the most widely performed cardiac procedures in the United States, with more than one million conducted every year. There is a low risk of major complications, including death, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and stroke, less than one percent, according to research.
Nevertheless, problems do still occur, and when they do, they can be devastating to the patient and their family. Victims may be left wondering, “Was this an unavoidable risk or medical negligence?”
Our Virginia Beach medical malpractice lawyers have handled cases in which a patient was seriously harmed during a cardiac catheterization procedure. We understand when complications may be a part of the inherent risks of the procedure and when they may instead herald medical malpractice. At Shapiro, Washburn, & Sharp, we can review the facts of your case to determine which may apply.
Call us today at 833-997-1774 for a free consultation.
What Is a Cardiac Catheterization Procedure?
Cardiac catheterization allows doctors to diagnose and sometimes treat many cardiovascular diseases. During the procedure, doctors can examine the heart more closely, diagnosing issues and performing other tests as needed.
A medical team may recommend a cardiac catheterization to investigate the cause of chest pain or an irregular heartbeat, to diagnose heart conditions such as a heart attack or high blood pressure, to evaluate a patient prior to heart surgery, or to gain a better understanding to other test results, such as a cardiac MRI or CT scan.
During the procedure, the doctor inserts a long, thin flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in your arm, groin or upper thigh, or neck. They then thread that tube through the blood vessels to your heart. Once there, they can examine your heart valves or take samples of blood or heart muscle.
They may also use the catheter to inject a dye into the coronary arteries to see whether your arteries are narrowed or blocked. In some cases, they can actually repair heart defects or replace heart valves with this procedure.
Because it’s “minimally invasive,” a cardiac catheterization is usually performed on an outpatient basis, which means the patient can typically go home on the same day without an overnight hospital stay. Nevertheless, despite its routine nature, complications can arise, and if they do, the consequences can be severe and can even lead to death.
What Can Go Wrong During a Cardiac Catheterization?
Though this procedure is generally considered safe, complications that may occur include the following.
Problems with the Catheter Itself
The catheter may be defective and cause irritation or injury to the blood vessel. In rare cases, it may even break, leaving fragments in the bloodstream. Typically, this involves a problem with the product itself, not the medical professional.
Puncture of the Heart or a Major Blood Vessel
If the doctor inserts the catheter too forcefully, it may puncture the heart or a major artery. This can create a life-threatening condition where blood rapidly fills the sac surrounding the heart (called the pericardium). The blood then compresses the heart—essentially suffocating it—and prevents it from pumping effectively. The patient needs immediate intervention to prevent death.
Other Possible Complications
Other complications may include:
- Blood clots: These can form at the catheter site and travel to the heart, lungs, or brain, causing strokes or heart attacks.
- Infections: If proper sterilization procedures aren’t followed, bacteria may enter the bloodstream through the catheter insertion site.
- Allergic Reactions: Using dye during the procedure may cause an allergic reaction in some sensitive patients.
When Does a Cardiac Catheterization Gone Wrong Become Medical Malpractice?
If a patient experiences a complication during this procedure, it depends on the circumstances whether that complication can be blamed on medical malpractice. If something goes wrong with the catheter, for example, the blame may lie with the manufacturer of that product rather than the doctor, in which case a patient could explore a defective product type personal injury claim against the manufacturer.
A medical malpractice case may be possible, however, if any of the following are true:
- The doctor inserted the catheter too forcefully and punctured the heart or a major vessel.
- The medical team failed to recognize and treat any complications in a timely manner and missed the diagnosis, even though real-time imaging was occurring during the procedure.
- The physician or medical team failed to follow proper protocol or safety measures.
- The doctor misdiagnosed the patient or failed to use the catheter properly, leading to a serious injury.
The key element in any medical malpractice claim is proving negligence—the doctor or medical professional failed to follow the standards of care expected in this type of procedure. If a patient suffered a heart puncture because of improper technique or another error that another competent doctor would have avoided, the patient may have grounds for legal action.
How Can a Medical Malpractice Attorney Help?
If you or a loved one was seriously injured during a cardiac catheterization procedure, and you suspect that medical negligence was involved, contact us at Shapiro, Washburn, & Sharp immediately. We will investigate the case to determine if you have a viable claim, assess the damages, and help you pursue compensation through settlement negotiations or a lawsuit, if necessary.
Medical malpractice cases are complex and require substantial evidence supported by medical experts. With over 100 years combined legal experience at our law firm, we will do everything we can to help, as we did for our retired client who suffered a serious negligence-based injury during a catheter-based procedure and never recovered. We helped negotiate a $1.3 million settlement for our client’s family.
For your convenience, we have offices in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake.