A blood clot is a semi-solid mass of blood cells and different substances that type inside blood vessels. It will probably block a vein or an artery, stopping blood from reaching organs, with probably devastating penalties. It’s vital that signs of a clot are recognised and handled rapidly in any other case they are often life threatening or trigger everlasting harm. Sadly, misdiagnosis and delays in prognosis will not be unusual and these, together with different failures within the administration of blood clots, can result in claims for medical negligence.
Clots can type in any a part of the physique. The time period Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is used to explain two interrelated circumstances – Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism. Shockingly, in accordance with Thrombosis UK, VTE is the most typical reason for preventable hospital deaths.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
DVT is a blood clot that happens in one of many deep veins of the physique, mostly one of many bigger veins within the leg such because the femoral vein.
It is vitally necessary {that a} DVT is identified and handled as quickly as doable. The longer a DVT is left untreated, the more serious the end result can develop into. Untreated, a DVT can block or limit blood move to the arteries within the limb, making amputation essential. A part of the clot may also break free probably leading to a pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a clot turns into lodged in an artery within the lungs stopping or proscribing blood move.
PE is essentially the most severe situation inside the spectrum of VTE and has a excessive mortality price. Immediate recognition of PE is paramount.
Analysis lately printed within the Well being Sciences Evaluation means that, in an emergency division setting, greater than 27 % of sufferers with PE are initially misdiagnosed and half of all these in inpatient settings are misdiagnosed.
To forestall PE, initially a DVT have to be recognised so therapy may be administered to scale back the chance of the clot breaking into the blood stream.
Signs
A blood clot / DVT might trigger throbbing or cramping ache, swelling and redness and heat in a leg or arm. A PE might end in sudden breathlessness, sharp chest ache and a cough or the coughing up of blood.
Do I’ve a declare?
Blood clots usually tend to happen in sedentary conditions, for instance, following surgical procedure. Certainly, Thrombus UK says that 55 to 60 % of VTEs occur throughout or after hospitalisation.
Based on pointers set by the Nationwide Institute for Well being and Care Excellence (NICE) all sufferers over 16 who’re admitted to hospital must be assessed for his or her VTE danger and preventative measures taken the place wanted.
You will need to be sure that sufferers keep hydrated and are energetic at any time when doable. The place there may be an recognized danger, blood thinning medicine (anticoagulants) would possibly have to be prescribed. Significantly, this will happen the place a affected person has different VTE danger elements, for instance being chubby, a smoker, or having sure circumstances resembling Crohn’s illness. Stress stockings may additionally be advisable to help with blood move.
Claims for medical negligence can come up the place an insufficient evaluation of danger results in a preventable blood clot. An instance can be a failure to prescribe blood thinners post-surgery for somebody in danger or a scarcity of appropriate recommendation. A failure to diagnose a DVT in time may additionally end in a declare the place a PE is subsequently suffered.
VTE Case research
- Considered one of our solicitors acted for a person in his 40s who suffered from unexplained calf ache. On attending his GP and A&E he was suggested that the signs had been on account of sciatica. He had no historical past of again issues by any means. This was a snap prognosis with no correct investigation or examination of his vascular system. His situation worsened over time and ultimately he was unable to stroll. When admitted to hospital his foot was discovered to be chilly and pale. A femoral artery blood clot was discovered however by this time it was too late to function to avoid wasting the leg and he needed to endure an amputation. The declare settled after subject of courtroom continuing for a seven-figure sum.
- Considered one of our solicitors additionally acted for a chemotherapy affected person who suffered with related signs. Regardless of the well-known robust affiliation between some chemotherapy medication and deep vein thrombosis his situation was not identified rapidly and after ready 13 hours to be seen in A&E he needed to endure an above knee amputation because of NHS negligence. The declare settled with out the necessity for courtroom proceedings for a really important sum.
How we may also help
We specialize in VTE claims and perceive how devastating the impacts may be. We offer our purchasers with the very best degree of help from the outset and work with main specialists, together with these within the discipline of vascular surgical procedure, to evaluate a declare. We be sure that any bundle of compensation obtained is maximised and that consideration is given to all future wants and losses. The place a declare is introduced on behalf of somebody who has died, compensation may be obtained for a lack of dependency, each emotionally and financially.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If in case you have any questions concerning this weblog, please contact James Bell or a member of the Medical Negligence and Private Harm Follow, or name us on 020 7814 1200.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Bell is the pinnacle of our Medical Negligence and Private Harm follow and joined the agency in 2023 from Hodge, Jones & Allen. He has undertaken medical negligence circumstances for over 20 years. All through his profession James has handled a really big selection of circumstances regarding all kinds of negligence claims – delayed prognosis circumstances, beginning accidents, anaesthetic accidents, surgical errors, GP and hospital negligence, all kinds of orthopaedic claims, together with advanced hip and knee alternative surgical procedure claims and and all kinds of most cancers circumstances.
