Mr S’s Case - Failure to Prevent Post-Surgery DVT Led to Pulmonary Embolism
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The Injury
Mr S, a self-employed car maintenance worker, had hernia surgery in January 2018. Despite his history of pulmonary embolism (PE) and a family history of clotting problems, he was discharged without blood clot prevention medication. A pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition where a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs. The blood clot usually originates from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the leg(s).
Within days of the hernia operation, Mr S developed a life-threatening pulmonary embolism, which required urgent readmission to hospital. The failures in his care left him with lasting breathlessness and fatigue, the need for lifelong blood-thinner treatment, and significant anxiety about his health.
Mr S instructed MDS to investigate the standard of care provided by the hospital, focusing on its failure to prevent this avoidable harm by properly considering his medical history and prescribing appropriate anti-coagulant medication following the surgery.
DVT After Surgery - Scenarios , DVT | MDS Medical Law, Medical Negligence
Represented by Gemma Lewis, a Specialist Medical Negligence Solicitor at MDS, the case was settled after negotiations with the Defendant, but liability was not admitted.
Gemma said - “Mr S’s pulmonary embolism after the hernia surgery should have been avoided. It is these types of basic errors that we regularly see, and which are easily avoidable. I am glad that we were able to support Mr S and to negotiate a settlement for him. I hope that lessons are learned, so that this error does not happen to anyone else”.
Are you concerned about a delay in diagnosis of a DVT or pulmonary embolism, or about how those conditions were managed?
Contact MDS today for specialist advice.
What Happened to Our Client?
Mr S is married with two adult children and works as a self-employed car maintenance specialist.
In 2011, he suffered a pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot in the lungs, and he was treated with blood thinners. He has a family history of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis, a condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein) but was otherwise generally healthy.
In early 2018, he was admitted to hospital for elective hernia surgery. While still in hospital after the operation, he collapsed when trying to get out of bed. His history of blood clots was noted, and he was given blood-thinning medication during his hospital stay. Prior to discharge, Mr S was still in significant pain and could barely walk. His risk of developing a new clot was high because of his reduced mobility, but despite this, no ongoing blood-thinning medication was prescribed at discharge.
Two days after he was discharged, Mr S was readmitted to hospital because he was still in pain. A risk assessment was carried out, and he was given compression stockings, which are designed to prevent blood clots, but he was not given any blood-thinning medication while he was in hospital. He was told that the pain was due to a haematoma (internal bleeding), but it would resolve on its own. He was discharged but again was given no blood-thinning medication.
Still in severe pain and barely mobile, Mr S began struggling to breathe four days after he was discharged again. He was urgently readmitted to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening blood clot in his lungs. He was treated and discharged after several days.
Since then, Mr S has continued to experience shortness of breath and fatigue. He needed several weeks off work, and although he was able to return to work, he no longer has the same physical capacity and has had to turn down larger jobs. He now has to take blood-thinning medication every day and is anxious about the risk of having another pulmonary embolism in the future.
Have you or a loved one had a DVT or PE After Surgery and are you concerned about the standard of care provided?
How can MDS help you?
While no amount of compensation will ever be enough for your or a family member’s suffering, if you or a loved one has been affected by healthcare negligence, we can help you through the legal process for investigating your concerns against a healthcare professional and your negligence claim if there is one.
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The Outcome of the Case
We were instructed to investigate a claim for medical negligence on Mr S’s behalf.
He felt strongly that something had gone wrong in his post-surgery care, which ultimately led to his pulmonary embolism.
We obtained Mr S’s medical records and found that although his history of a pulmonary embolism in 2011 was noted, the hospital records from 2018 incorrectly stated that there was no significant family history. Based on both his medical and family history, as well as his reduced mobility after surgery, Mr S should have been treated as a high-risk patient.
We also confirmed from the records that there was no medical reason (contraindication) that would have prevented doctors from prescribing blood clot prevention medication.
As part of our investigation, we obtained expert evidence from a consultant general surgeon (the discipline of surgeon who performs hernia surgery), a consultant haematologist (a specialist doctor who treats diseases affecting the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system), and a consultant vascular surgeon (a specialist doctor who considers abnormalities and conditions affecting the veins and arteries, like DVT or PE). The general surgery expert confirmed that the repeated failure to prescribe anti-clotting medication after surgery and during Mr S’s readmissions fell below the expected standard of care. The experts concluded that, had Mr S been given proper blood clot prevention, he would have avoided developing the pulmonary embolism.
We sent detailed allegations to the hospital about the failures in Mr S’s care. Although the hospital denied liability, an offer to settle the claim was made. We were able to negotiate settlement and compensation was paid to Mr S.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with DVT, PE, or any type of blood clot, you can get support from the following charities:
A charity to provide support and advice to thrombosis sufferers and healthcare providers across the country
A charity which funds and promotes research into the causes, treatment and prevention of vascular disease in the UK.
Disclaimer
Whilst our case studies are designed to give an indication of the outcomes that can be achieved in these circumstances, the compensation awarded in individual cases can vary significantly due to a range of factors, including the severity of injury, effects on life expectancy and financial impact, for example. For more information, contact us today.
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If you are concerned about the medical treatment that you or a loved one has received, please contact us and one of our specialist team will assist you.
