This cardiology ultrasound case takes place in Texas and involves a child who died after complications. The child had an ultrasound that showed a thickening of the left side of his heart. The child was admitted to the hospital, at which time he was noted to have a cardiac murmur. An initial echocardiogram indicated that the child had a severely dilated left ventricle with decreased function. The child had significant deterioration in the hours after he was admitted to the hospital. He did not respond to the medical management as would be expected in this scenario. He was on multiple cardiac medications to treat his condition, however the treating physicians had made a mistake when diagnosing the child’s condition, and missed a critical congenital defect that ultimately led to the child’s death.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
- 1. Please explain your qualifications to review this case. Are you familiar with the proper follow up protocols during pregnancy?
-
2. What steps should be taken when infant shows cardiac murmur? Please explain.
-
3. Have you ever reviewed a similar case? Please explain.
Expert Witness Response E-007617
TAPVR is among the few cardiac surgical emergencies. There is no good medical management. It requires surgical intervention to survive. Unfortunately, it looks like pulmonary hypertension, clinically, and often is treated as such initially. The diagnosis is made by echocardiography and it is important that the pulmonary veins are demonstrated returning to the left atrium. If not, you have to suspect this diagnosis. From the brief description, it appears either it was not seen on the initial echo, or it was not shown by the images obtained. The delay in diagnosis was related to the outcome. TAPVR is among the few cardiac surgical emergencies. There is no good medical management. It requires surgical intervention to survive. Unfortunately, it looks like pulmonary hypertension, clinically, and often is treated as such initially. The diagnosis is made by echocardiography and it is important that the pulmonary veins are demonstrated returning to the left atrium. If not, you have to suspect this diagnosis. From the brief description, it appears either it was not seen on the initial echo, or it was not shown by the images obtained. The delay in diagnosis was related to the outcome.
Contact this expert witness
Related Posts
This case takes place in Texas and involves a man who died while performing his duties as a pilot. On the day of the accident, the pilot was approaching the airport and while concentrating on maneuvering, struck a radar tower…
This case takes place in Pennsylvania and involves a man who was killed when working at a natural gas burning power plant. On this occasion, the man was undertaking a routine inspection of the fuel cell-powered furnace and firebox equipment in…
