This lawsuit concerned the medical treatment of a man in his mid-sixties with a history of leg pain, chest pain, and decreased ankle-brachial index. The brachial index indicated that the man’s blood pressures in his arm and leg were radically different; consequently, he was diagnosed with bilateral lower extremity peripheral arterial disease and scheduled for left common iliac arterial stenosis intervention. During his recovery period, the patient’s blood pressure rose exponentially and he began to complain of back pain, nausea, and displayed an altered mental status. The interventional cardiology team administered a routine checkup four days after the operation, and suspected that there may be blood seeping into his abdominal cavity. An arteriogram showed that the patient’s external iliac artery had been perforated, and he passed away hours later. An interventional cardiologist asked to review the records and comment on the treatment of the patient.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
- 1. Do you routinely perform cardiovascular and endovascular interventions similar to the one described in this case?
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2. How common is an arterial perforation for patients who undergo this procedure?
Expert Witness Response E-008276
I do perform this procedure in my practice. This complication is a rare but known complication of femoral arterial access, and I have taught cardiology fellows on the management of arterial access complications.
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