Pulmonary Embolism And Stroke
Dangerous Risks of Pulmonary Embolus or Blood Clots From A Stroke
A pulmonary embolism (or PE) is a blood clot, particularly in the lungs or the heart. What makes a PE so dangerous is that it blocks the normal function of the lungs or heart and can be deadly if left untreated. Other terms, such as veinous thromboembolism (VTE), may be used to describe blood clots in other areas of the body. Regardless of what it is precisely called, just like a PE, a blood clot in any essential organ of the body does the same thing and is a serious medical condition. Blood clots going to the brain can result in severe prolonged headaches and brain damage. Blood clots are also frequently the cause of a stroke.
Get a legal opinion from a medical malpractice lawyer who handles blood clot and stroke cases. A consultation to determine the merits of your case is free.
Blood Clots Are More Common Than We Appreciate
Blood clots can occur in people of any age and can be the result of poor circulation from an underlying medical conditions and/or inactivity. Risk factors include an acute or chronic illness, cancer, abnormal heart structure, immune or blood system disorders, birth control medications, and prolonged inactivity.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Timely and Appropriate Treatment is Required for Blood Clots
Physicians can use a variety of tools to diagnose a PE or DVT, including ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT scan), magnetic resonance venogram (MRI), catheter based dye study (conventional veinogram), CT pulmonary angiogram, ventilation perfusion scan (V/Q), and x-ray.
Blood clots are typically treated with anticoagulants and sequential compression devices (SCD’s). A patient may be placed on a Heparin drip, Warfarin (Coumadin), or Lovenox. Most people call these medications “blood thinners.” On the other hand, tPa (tissue plasminogen activator) is sometimes called a “clot busting” medication and is used to treat urgent or emergent strokes. If you go to the ER with a stroke, you should be given tPa if symptoms started less than 3 hours prior.
Stroke Alert Protocol
Every hospital and emergency department has a protocol for a stroke alert. When a patient presents to the emergency room with signs or symptoms of a stroke, the stroke alert protocol should be initiated by the doctors and nurses. A CT and blood thinning medication should be ordered under normal circumstances. In addition, a stroke alert protocol should be initiated for a patient who has been admitted to the hospital but has signs and symptoms including difficulty breathing or suffers a cardiac arrest.
Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney Who Knows the Medicine
If you or a loved one have a case involving a blood clot or pulmonary embolism, please contact a Lakeland medical malpractice attorney for a free consultation to discuss the merits of your particular case. As medical malpractice attorneys, we will examine your medical records and research the medical issues involved to reach a legal opinion on your malpractice case.
Read Our Blog For More
For recent legal topics, please see our personal injury blog or read our answers to frequently asked questions. We help clients located in Polk County, including Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, and Haines City, Florida with medical malpractice cases for stroke, blood clots, or pulmonary emboli.
