Angiocardiography: Risks, Malpractice and Lawsuits

While the rate of heart disease is decreasing in this country, there are still over 80 million adults who have some type of cardiovascular disease, contributing to some of the 8.1 million fatal heart attacks every year.  Those statistics are decreasing in part because of a procedure called angiocardiography, which identifies deformities or diseases in the heart and the vessels surrounding it.  Angiocardiography is generally indicated for such reasons as:

• Coronary artery disease
• Aneurysms
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Preparation for surgery

However, this type of invasive procedure is not without its risks, and some complications may be caused by the negligence of doctors, surgeons, or a hospital staff.

How The Procedure is Done

Angiocardiography is generally performed as an outpatient procedure in a hospital setting.  The procedure itself can take just an hour, though with preparation and recovery time it may take an entire day or more.  The steps for an angiocardiography include:

Anaesthetic is injected into the affected area

A catheter, or thin plastic tube, is inserted into the arm or groin area, threaded through the vessels and into the aorta, eventually resting in a chamber of the heart

A radiopaque fluid or contrast dye is injected into the catheter and traced by a series of X-rays, tracking the movement of blood through the arteries

Risks

There are a number of complications that can result from an angiocardiography, including:

• Damage to blood vessels, affecting organs and tissues
• Allergic reactions to the dyes
• Radiation exposure
• Kidney damage
• Cardiac arrest
• Excessive bleeding
• Infection
• Shock
• Convulsions
• Cyanosis (blue skin)
• Blood clots
• Death

Those risks occur only rarely, in between 1 and 2% of cases.  The death rate is a mere .08%.

Opportunity for Negligence and Injury

However, there can be errors by physicians, surgeons, and hospitals that can produce tragic results in even low-risk procedures such as angiocardiography.  When a surgeon fails to perform up to accepted medical standards and the patient is injured, the doctor may be liable, or negligent.  Such negligence may include:

• Damage to the carotid artery, resulting in stroke or paralysis
• Errors in pre-op instructions or care
• Inadequate post-op care or instructions
• Prescription errors
• Unsanitary conditions or instruments
• Inadequate response to complications during surgery

Medical Negligence and Malpractice Suits

When such negligence occurs and a patient suffers harm or death, they or their family have the right to file a lawsuit.  The key to such cases is obtaining the testimony of a medical expert who can verify that the physician or medical institution failed to perform up to the normal standards of care.

In addition, most states have placed limits, or caps, on the amount of damages a victim or their family can recover.  Many have also placed a 2-year statute of limitations on medical malpractice suits, ensuring they will be addressed quickly.

The compensation victims or their families may be able to recover include:

• Medical costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages
• Permanent disability
• Wrongful death
• Loss of companionship or support (for wrongful death)
• Funeral expenses

When to Talk to a Lawyer

Because of the emotions involved in medical malpractice cases, it can be essential to obtain the help of a qualified and experienced medical malpractice attorney to pursue a lawsuit.  Not only will they be able to provide a legal case for the negligence of the defendant, they have access to expert witnesses who can testify to the level of care required, but not met, by the defendant.