Misdiagnosis of aortic dissections, are often fatal and can result in serious complications and even death.
Aortic dissections involve a tear in a person’s artery and frequently results from trauma or tears in the inner layer of the aortic wall. Unfortunately, aortic dissections are often fatal. If diagnosed early, however, the condition is survivable with few lasting injuries. Misdiagnosis of aortic dissections, however, are often fatal and can result in serious complications and even death. As a result, people who are impacted by misdiagnosis of an aortic dissection should not hesitate to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney who knows how to make sure adequate compensation is obtained.
How Aortic Dissections Occur
Aortic dissections can take many years to develop and often doe not present with any symptoms. When a significant rupture occurs, some of the symptoms that might arise include clammy skin, nausea, rapid heart rate, severe pain in the abdomen or back, shock, and vomiting.
The Types of Aortic Dissections
Aortic dissections most often occur in patients who are between the ages of 50 to 70 years old. While the condition is rare in children, it has been linked to coarctation of the aorta, which is a congenital condition. The DeBakey classification system divides aortic dissections into three types. Type I encompasses aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta dissections, Type II includes ascending aorta dissections, and Type III includes descending aorta distal to left subclavian valve dissections. There are various conditions that raise the risk that a person will have experience an aortic dissection including atherosclerosis, bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta, connective tissue disorders, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, heart surgery, high blood pressure, Marfan syndrome, pregnancy, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, trauma, and vascular inflammation.
Accurate Diagnosis of Aortic Dissections
Aortic dissections are not common, which means that the condition is often not spotted by physicians who lack significant training. Also, given the rareness with which aortic dissections occur, physicians often diagnose the condition as another condition (including most often a heart attack) and fail to provide adequate treatment as a result.
A doctor can often screen for the condition by performing an ECG, other types of imaging, and laboratory studies. Aortic dissections can also become visible through aortic angiography, chest x-rays, CT scans, echocardiograms, MRI, and ultrasonography. In the case of aneurysm, it is important that doctors quickly diagnose the condition because the risk of death increase as each hour passes. The lack of proper testing frequently results in insufficient diagnosis of an aortic dissection. In these cases, it is imperative that a person obtain the assistance of skilled legal counsel.
Initiating an Aortic Dissection Medical Malpractice Claim
Aortic dissections are capable of being treated if a person’s condition is diagnosed early enough. Unfortunately, medical professionals often fail to accurately diagnose the condition. If you or a loved one has experienced a misdiagnosed aortic dissection or any other type of medical malpractice that resulted in harm, you should speak with a seasoned attorney at The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan who can make sure you obtain the compensation that you deserve.
We offer a free, no-obligation legal consultation to help you understand your rights and the value of your case.
Our medical malpractice trial 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.
