Pulmonary Embolism Medical Negligence
A pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency. It must be diagnosed and treated immediately or the patient will dangerously deficient in oxygen.
If you or your family member suffered harm because medical practitioners do not provide an acceptable standard of care when treating a pulmonary embolism, you should seek legal advice. There may be a case of medical negligence. This would entitled you to pursue a claim for compensation.
For more information on medical compensation claims, please contact us at Glynns Solicitors. Call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form and we will be pleased to help you.
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What is a pulmonary embolism?
A pulmonary embolism is when something - such as a blood clot - blocks the pulmonary artery.
The pulmonary artery is the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. When it becomes blocked, blood will not be able to reach the lungs, causing the body to become deficient in oxygen. This will be life-threatening if left untreated.
Why does a pulmonary embolism happen?
Normally the blockage is caused by a blood clot. Very rarely the pulmonary artery can become blocked in other ways such as blood vessel damage, a fat droplet, amniotic fluid (during pregnancy), an air bubble or health conditions including cancer.
This article will focus upon a pulmonary embolism being caused by a blood clot.
Pulmonary embolism from a blood clot.
When a blood clot develops somewhere else in the body it can become dislodged and travel around the body. Sometimes it will travel towards the lungs, becoming stuck in the pulmonary artery.
Such blood clots will often develop in the deep veins in the legs. This condition is known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Deep Vein Thrombosis can occur due to:
Inactivity
When someone is inactive for a long time, blood will pool in the legs, potentially leading to a blood clot. This can affect the elderly who remain lying or sitting for prolonged periods of time. It can also affect patients who are immobile after an operation or illness, and people who undertake long-haul travel by plane.
Vessel damage
If a blood vessel is damaged, the broken blood vessel wall can restrict the flow of blood, causing a blood clot. A blood vessel can be injured during surgery, because of a bone fracture or because of medication such as chemotherapy.
Health conditions.
There are some health conditions that make the blood more susceptible to clotting. These include Hughes Syndrome, cancer, thrombophilia and heart failure.
Risk factors.
Some people will be more at risk of developing a blood clot, including those who:
- Are overweight or obese
- Smoke
- Are pregnant
- Have had a previous blood clot
- Have a family history of blood clots
- Are aged 60 or over
DVT does not always lead to a pulmonary embolism. However, it is possible that part of the blood clot breaks off. If so it will move around the body in the bloodstream. If the blood reaches the pulmonary artery it will become stuck, causing a pulmonary embolism.
Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism.
Not all patients will present with the classic symptoms of pulmonary embolism. In those who do, the symptoms will include:
- Pain in the chest and upper back that is worse when breathing in
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Dizziness and fainting
Sometimes the circulation of blood will be severely disrupted, prompting sudden collapse or heart attack.
If a pulmonary embolism has been caused by Deep Vein Thrombosis, their symptoms may be preceded by a history of a swollen, painful leg.
Diagnosing and treating pulmonary embolism.
When a patient presents with a possible pulmonary embolism, medical practitioners must be quick to make an accurate diagnosis. A pulmonary embolism does not always have typical symptoms, so doctors should investigate a number of potential diagnoses alongside pulmonary embolism, such as heart attack, aortic aneurysm and pneumonia.
Tests must be carried out immediately to confirm the diagnosis. A blood test will show a raised D-dimer level, which is a protein found in the blood when a clot breaks down. This will be a significant indication of a pulmonary embolism.
To obtain a definite diagnosis, a patient must have a CT scan. If a scan is not available, doctors should begin treatment anyway, as any delay could cause serious complications. Treatment should involve anti-coagulant medication to prevent the blood from clotting further. Nevertheless, doctors should be careful when administering anticoagulants as it can be dangerous in some patients - particularly those who are old and frail.
After a CT scan verifies the presence of a pulmonary embolism, doctors can decide upon a more specified course of treatment. If the blockage is severe, it may be necessary to remove the clot. This can be achieved by injecting medication, or with surgery.
Ongoing treatment for pulmonary embolism.
The treatment for pulmonary embolism is a long-term process. Treatment should not stop when a patient is discharged from hospital. Anticoagulation medication will normally be required for six months, with frequent assessments during this time to ensure the condition is under control. Some patients will require lifelong anticoagulation medication.
It is also important that a patient is not discharged from hospital too early. There are occasions when a patient is diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, only to be discharged with a prescription shortly after. However, a pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening condition. If there are any signs that a patient's condition is not yet stable - such as low oxygen, low blood pressure or other symptoms associated with pulmonary embolism - he/she must remain in hospital.
Substandard treatment of pulmonary embolism.
If medical practitioners do not provide a reasonable standard of care during the management of a pulmonary embolism, the patient can come to serious harm. For example, clinicians may:
- Fail to consider the possibility of pulmonary embolism in a patient with DVT/acute chest pain/breathless
- Fail to order diagnostic tests, particularly blood test and a CT scan
- Fail to interpret diagnostic tests accurately, including missing the clot on imaging tests or mistaking abnormal blood results for anther condition (such as pneumonia or heart attack)
- Fail to comply with anticoagulation protocol
- Discharging a patient from hospital too early
- Failing to regularly review a pulmonary embolism patient after the event and adjust medication as necessary
Anyone who is subject to medical failings such as those described above could be the victim of medical negligence. A solicitor will be able to clarify whether there has been a case of medical negligence. If so, there will be grounds for a compensation claim.
Free, no obligation enquiry
To talk to a solicitor about compensation for a pulmonary embolism, please get in touch with us at Glynns Solicitors. We offer everyone a free, no obligation enquiry. This means you can talk to a solicitor completely free of charge. After this consultation you will be given expert legal advice, during which you will be told whether you have grounds to make a claim.
However, you do not have to pursue the matter any further if you do not want to. Even if you are advised there are grounds for a claim, you can decide not to take legal action and we will close the file.
Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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