Angioplasty Injury | Medical Malpractice

Unnecessary Surgery Lawsuits

Angioplasty is a highly invasive cardiac procedure designed to open narrowed arteries and restore proper blood flow, often with the placement of stents. When performed correctly and with medical necessity, it can prevent heart attacks and prolong lives. Unfortunately, growing evidence suggests that some patients are advised to undergo angioplasty even when it is not medically justified.

These unnecessary interventions may stem from misinterpreted diagnostic tests, overzealous treatment recommendations, or, in troubling situations, financial motivations. Regardless of the reason, patients are left with surgical scars, higher medical bills, and lasting health complications that should have been avoided.

Dangers of Unneeded Angioplasty Procedures

Angioplasty is not without risk, and when the procedure is performed unnecessarily, the patient is exposed to danger without corresponding benefit. Complications may include:

• Arterial tears or perforations
• Blood clots that can trigger stroke or heart attack
• Infections at the catheter site
• Excessive bleeding and internal injury
• Allergic reactions to imaging dye
• Psychological trauma from enduring an invasive surgery

An angioplasty should be performed safely every time, seeing as it is one of the most common medical procedures of the last 50 years. However, surgical errors, unnecessary coronary stent procedures and angioplasty malpractice occur with some regularity. Medical malpractice lawsuits are likely to follow medical mistakes, and plaintiffs can seek rightful compensation.

Doctors have insisted for many years that patient can reduce the risk of heart attacks by undergoing cardiac surgeries, including angioplasty procedures. Angioplasty surgery involves balloons, wires and stents, used to open blocked arteries. But there is evidence and medical reports that suggest many doctors perform coronary stenting procedures even when it may not benefit the patient.

Angioplasty malpractice cases often include unnecessary cardiac stents, punctured arteries, embolisms, defective medical devices, and other surgical errors. Many patients listen to professional medical advice, then it turns out they have an unnecessary invasive surgical procedure all because the doctor may have received kickbacks from medical companies or they failed to try other medical options.

Joe Lyon is a Medical Malpractice Attorney reviewing cardiac injury cases and angioplasty malpractice lawsuits for plaintiffs nationwide.

Unnecessary Angioplasty Lawsuits

Angioplasty procedures may be lucrative procedures for hospitals and cardiologists, and thus consumer safety attorneys are investigating many operations that are medically unnecessary. A doctor may diagnose a blockage in the coronary artery in a patient, but many patients do not have symptoms, and the benefits of angioplasty do not always outweigh the risks.

Unnecessary medical procedures can constitute medical malpractice, and the doctor may be held accountable for any injury that results. A recent study on bypass cardiac surgery and heart stents shows that thousands of patients may undergo surgery that may not be warranted.

The study found that patients who received drug therapy instead of an operation fared about as well as those who received stents or bypass surgery. That included patients with severely blocked coronary arteries and those with serious chest pain.

Angioplasty Malpractice

This is not new information that challenges the medical questions and safety involving coronary stents. Previous studies have not been 100 percent conclusive on the safety or added benefits of angioplasty procedures. It is undeniable, though, that surgical operations include certain risks for patients. If doctors fail to try other ways to treat a patient before surgery, the case may be reviews by a medical malpractice attorney.

There is no doubt that angioplasty can save lives during a heart attack, but for other patients it may be overkill. There may be many complications of a coronary procedure, including:

• Blood clotting
• Myocardial infarctions (heart attack)
• Embolism
• Stroke
• Arrhythmia
• Coronary artery damage
• Anesthesia Errors
• Internal bleeding
• Reoccurring stenosis

Balloon Angioplasty Errors

Balloon angioplasty is a medical procedure used to treat angina, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and heart attacks. Balloon angioplasties are routine procedures though they still present some risk to patients.

During cardiac catheterization surgery, the coronary artery is opened to increase blood flow to the heart. Then a small balloon at the tip of the catheter is inserted near the blocked artery. The balloon is inflated, the blockage is compressed against artery walls and the blood vessel is widened to increase cardiac blood flow.

Balloon angioplasty is often performed in combination with a heart stenting procedure, using a metal mesh tube that provides arterial support. The balloon is removed, and the stent stays in place. For patients, there is always a risk of restenosis. Angioplasty can also be performed in the iliac artery, the femoral artery, and the tibial and peroneal arteries.

Surgical Error & Medical Negligence Lawsuits

Most surgical outcomes are successful, but many others result in injury that may require a medical malpractice claim. A hospital and doctor may be held responsible if they fail to provide a basic standard of care or an injury results. Common angioplasty errors can include:

• Anesthesia Errors
• Medication Errors
• Stress tests are not performed
• Surgical Errors
• Damaging blood vessels or surrounding organs
• Failing to Diagnose Strokes
• Performing Unnecessary Surgery
• Leaving Medical Instruments in Patients