Failure to Diagnose Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Malpractice Lawyers
Abdominal aortic aneurysms involve enlargement of the large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, legs, and pelvis. Statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control reveal that 4% of people over the age of 65 experience an abdominal aortic aneurysm, with the number of people afflicted having tripled over the past 30 years. Unfortunately, a large number of abdominal aortic aneurysms are misdiagnosed by physicians, which results in delayed surgeries and additional complications in patients. The best way to respond to this condition is to receive prompt diagnosis as well as treatment. If you experience a misdiagnosis or any other type of malpractice involving abdominal aortic aneurysms, reach out to an attorney from The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan.
Symptoms of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
In a large number of cases, aneurysms are slow to develop and appear without the presence of any symptoms. If the aneurysm ruptures, the associated symptoms often include pain in the abdomen or back, nausea, rapid heart rate, shock, and vomiting.
Risk Factors for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
The exact reason why abdominal aortic aneurysms occur has not yet been determined. Some of the factors that increase the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms include age, emphysema, ethnicity, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, smoking, and various genetic factors.
Diagnosis of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Diagnosing an abdominal aortic aneurysm often starts with performing an abdominal examination. Some of the signs that suggest a person might have an abdominal aortic aneurysm include lumps in the abdomen, pulsating sensations, and a stiff or rigid abdomen. Medical professionals that suspect a patient has an abdominal aortic aneurysm should conduct a CT scan or ultrasound of the abdomen. X-rays can also reveal abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Misdiagnosis of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
The hallmark symptoms of abdominal aortic aneurysms are absent in over 60% of the cases of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. As a result, misdiagnosis of the condition is common despite advancements in medical technology. The condition is often mistaken for diverticulitis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and renal colic. An erroneous diagnosis when a person has an abdominal aortic aneurysm, however, the results can be fatal.
Treatment Options
Repair of open abdominal aneurysm can be performed if abdominal bleeding occurs. If an aneurysm is small enough and no symptoms are present, frequent ultrasound monitoring is often recommended to determine if an aneurysms is enlarging. Sometimes, surgery might be advised to treat the condition if the aneurysm is larger than two inches. Medical professionals will often try to quickly perform surgery before the complications associated with the condition grow worse.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney
If properly diagnosed, abdominal aortic aneurysms can often be successfully treated. These conditions, however, are often missed entirely or improperly treated by medical professionals. To obtain the compensation that you deserve after medical malpractice, it is a wise idea to contact an experienced attorney. Contact The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan today for assistance.
We offer a free, no-obligation legal consultation to help you understand your rights and the value of your case.
Our medical malpractice lawyers assist clients throughout all of Massachusetts including, but not limited to, those in the following counties, cities and towns: Plymouth County, Brockton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Marshfield, Hingham, Duxbury, Wareham, Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanson, Holbrook, Middleborough; Norfolk County including Quincy, Stoughton, Dedham, Weymouth, Braintree, Avon, Holbrook, Randolph, Canton, Sharon, Brookline, Franklin; Bristol County including New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Westport, Dartmouth, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham, Lakeville, Norton; Cape Cod, Hyannis, Falmouth, Barnstable and the Greater Boston area including Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Revere, Dorchester, Roxbury.
