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Pulmonary Embolism Lawsuit
One of the 29 “never events” that the National Quality Forum has identified that should not ever occur in healthcare settings is an intravascular air embolism.
When air is allowed to enter the bloodstream, it can be fatal or cause injuries that can be life altering.
Air embolisms are fairly rare as they are preventable in medical settings when the correct procedures and precautions are used. Unfortunately, that is not always the case and victims of these errors are the ones who pay the price.
Call us if you have been a victim of failure to diagnose, pulmonary embolism (PE) medical malpractice, DVT, air embolism malpractice, or other misconduct.
How Do Embolisms and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Generally Occur in a Patient
When a blood clot forms in a patient and leads to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), serious injuries can arise including leg pain, amputation, and even death.
Blood clots can be hit off at the head with blood thinners if there is not a failure to diagnose; however, doctors often miss them and that misdiagnosis can cause a blood clot (blood clots), pulmonary embolism, chest pain, and related complications.
Here is how most blood clots lead to DVT and pulmonary embolisms (PE):
- Sedentary behavior
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Surgical complications*
Many medical malpractice cases come about over these circumstances and you can talk to one of our medical malpractice lawyers or personal injury attorneys about a case today. You can reach us by sending a text message, submitting a contact form on our website, or giving us a phone call.
*Check if you have risk factors or symptoms with your doctor and what the proper standard of care should be.
For other concerns related to air embolism development, reach out by sending a text message, contact form text message, phone call or leaving a voicemail.
Note, any confidential or sensitive information should not be sent via non-encrypted means. We can create an attorney client relationship and help you!
How a Blood Clot and Air Embolisms Can Happen to a Patient
In a medical setting, air embolisms generally occur from intravenous introduction of air into the blood stream of a patient. This can be from an injection or when a catheter or IV is placed into a blood vessel.
It can also occur during surgery depending upon your risk factors or symptoms. Once an air pocket is in the blood, it can travel to the heart or the brain and cause blockages that can be fatal. Causes of embolisms can be:- Ruptured catheter or tubing. Small holes in tubing can allow air into the IV
- Improper priming of tubing. If the tubing is not properly primed or primed while attached to the patient
- Improper removal of catheter or tubing. When an IV is removed, there is danger of air entering the bloodstream.
If any one of these situations arose, your doctor may have committed medical malpractice and you may be entitled financial compensation. Use our contact form to talk to our Cook County lawyers about your cases and the proper standard of care for the medical situation.
Also, you can always reach us by sending a text message, contact form text message, phone call or leaving a voicemail. Note, any confidential or sensitive information should not be sent via non-encrypted means.
Effects Of An Air Embolism or General Pulmonary Embolism with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
While air embolisms and pulmonary embolisms (PE) generally are preventable, once they do occur they are often fatal.An air embolism caused by a catheter or IV has a 30% mortality rate in patients. However, even those who survive may have injuries that cause permanent damage.
Some of the symptoms and complications of an air embolism are:
- Stroke
- Blindness
- Heart attack
- Brain damage
- Death
We try to help them realize these issues. Our law group can create an attorney client relationship.
Reach out to us via text message or voicemail or by submitting a contact form with the details of your case but avoid confidential or sensitive information. Our law group can create an attorney client relationship if you give us your info by phone call or leaving in some other form.
Preventing Embolisms and Blood Clots in Chicago Patients
Healthcare professionals such as nurses and doctors are well trained on how to prevent air embolism and deep vein thrombosis as well as how to monitor for them during surgeries and medical procedures.
Some preventive measures include the following:- Use proper IV and injection procedures to ensure no air is allowed into the patient’s blood.
- Monitoring for air bubbles with an ultrasound or pulmonary artery catheter during surgery
- Positioning patient for surgery or IV insertion. For IV procedures, patients that are put in a sitting position can be at higher risk for an air embolism.
If there was failure in any of these circumstances, medical malpractice may have occurred and you should use our contact form to get in touch with us especially if you are from Cook County.
Treating Embolisms after They Occur in Hospital Patients
If patients unfortunately develop a pulmonary embolism (PE) or other kind due to whatever reason, there are certain things you can do to lessen their effects.
You can take blood thinners (also known as anticoagulants) or clot dissolvers (referred to as thrombolytics ). The first group of medications try to prevent DVT/pulmonary embolism/blood clot in their early stages.
They can be taken in a number of ways, often through injections. Heparin is a common blood thinner. The second group attempts to break up the clot. However, this is a more dangerous choice because it can cause bleeding. Therefore, it is normally used only as a last resort.
To treat your embolism, a doctor can also resort to surgical methods. Surgeons may try to remove the clot entirely.
This is normally true if it is critically threatening your life or large in size and demands removal. The doctor may also try to filter the clot in order to prevent it from spreading to other areas of the patient's body. Surgeons typically use a filter to accomplish this.
If you believe your deep vein thrombosis, DVT, blood clot, pulmonary embolism, or similar problem was caused by medical malpractice including a failure to diagnose or some other failure, then call our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys for a free consultation.
You can also use text message or voicemail and feel secure submitting a contact note but please avoid non encrypted email.
Talk to Our Pulmonary Embolism Attorneys in a Free Consultation Today
Any air embolism or pulmonary embolism (PE) injury can result in many health issues (leg pain, DVT, etc.) and even death for the victim. In many cases, a serious air embolism injury that happens in a healthcare environment is grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC, we have represented many clients successfully via attorney client relationship in pursuing Illinois medical malpractice cases involving air embolisms, resulting in financial compensation for their medical bills, lost income and even wrongful death.
We offer a free consultation to discuss your case through phone call if you or a loved one was a victim of an Illinois air embolism injury event.
Our attorneys work in the Chicago area (Cook County, DuPage County, Will County, Kane County) and can message you via phone call, through our website, text message, or contact form.
Alternatively, you can reach us by text message or submitting a contact form message making clear your circumstances but please do not include any sensitive information or use non encrypted email.
Call us today about a case. 888-424-5757. Please do not include case information by non encrypted contact form text message or other information by non encrypted means.
Further reading related to air embolisms, PE, DVT: