A blood clot is a semi-solid mass of blood cells and different components that shape inside of blood vessels. It might block a vein or an artery, combating blood from attaining organs, with doubtlessly devastating penalties. It is important that signs of a clot are recognised and handled briefly differently they are able to be existence threatening or motive everlasting harm. Sadly, misdiagnosis and delays in analysis don’t seem to be unusual and those, in conjunction with different disasters within the control of blood clots, may end up in claims for scientific negligence.  

Clots can shape in any a part of the frame.  The time period Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is used to explain two interrelated prerequisites – Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism. Shockingly, consistent with Thrombosis UK, VTE is the most typical explanation for preventable health center deaths.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

DVT is a blood clot that happens in some of the deep veins of the frame, maximum regularly some of the higher veins within the leg such because the femoral vein.

You will need to {that a} DVT is recognized and handled once imaginable. The longer a DVT is left untreated, the more serious the result can turn out to be. Untreated, a DVT can block or limit blood glide to the arteries within the limb, making amputation essential. A part of the clot too can become independent from doubtlessly leading to a pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a clot turns into lodged in an artery within the lungs combating or limiting blood glide.

PE is essentially the most severe situation throughout the spectrum of VTE and has a prime mortality price. Steered reputation of PE is paramount.

Analysis just lately printed within the Well being Sciences Assessment means that, in an emergency division surroundings, greater than 27 p.c of sufferers with PE are to begin with misdiagnosed and part of all the ones in inpatient settings are misdiagnosed.

To forestall PE, to begin with a DVT should be recognised so remedy may also be administered to cut back the chance of the clot breaking into the blood circulation.

Signs
 

A blood clot / DVT might motive throbbing or cramping ache, swelling and redness and heat in a leg or arm. A PE might lead to surprising breathlessness, sharp chest ache and a cough or the coughing up of blood.

Do I’ve a declare?
 

Blood clots are much more likely to happen in sedentary eventualities, for instance, following surgical procedure. Certainly, Thrombus UK says that 55 to 60 p.c of VTEs occur all over or after hospitalisation.

In keeping with pointers set by means of the Nationwide Institute for Well being and Care Excellence (NICE) all sufferers over 16 who’re admitted to health center will have to be assessed for his or her VTE possibility and preventative measures taken the place wanted.

You will need to be sure that sufferers keep hydrated and are energetic on every occasion imaginable. The place there may be an recognized possibility, blood thinning drugs (anticoagulants) may wish to be prescribed. In particular, this will happen the place a affected person has different VTE possibility elements, for instance being obese, a smoker, or having sure prerequisites reminiscent of Crohn’s illness. Force stockings can be advisable to help with blood glide.

Claims for scientific negligence can rise up the place an insufficient overview of possibility ends up in a preventable blood clot. An instance could be a failure to prescribe blood thinners post-surgery for anyone in danger or a loss of appropriate recommendation. A failure to diagnose a DVT in time might also lead to a declare the place a PE is therefore suffered.

VTE Case research

• One among our solicitors acted for a person in his 40s who suffered from unexplained calf ache. On attending his GP and A&E he used to be urged that the indications had been because of sciatica. He had no historical past of again issues in any respect. This used to be a snap analysis with out a correct investigation or exam of his vascular gadget. His situation worsened through the years and sooner or later he used to be not able to stroll. When admitted to health center his foot used to be discovered to be chilly and faded. A femoral artery blood clot used to be discovered however by means of this time it used to be too overdue to perform to save lots of the leg and he needed to go through an amputation. The declare settled after factor of court docket continuing for a seven-figure sum.
• One among our solicitors additionally acted for a chemotherapy affected person who suffered with equivalent signs. Regardless of the well known robust affiliation between some chemotherapy medicine and deep vein thrombosis his situation used to be no longer recognized briefly and after ready 13 hours to be noticed in A&E he needed to  go through an above knee amputation because of NHS negligence. The declare settled with out the will for court docket lawsuits for an overly vital sum.

How we will be able to lend a hand

We concentrate on VTE claims and know the way devastating the affects may also be. We offer our purchasers with the perfect stage of strengthen from the outset and paintings with main mavens, together with the ones within the box of vascular surgical procedure, to evaluate a declare. We be sure that any package deal of reimbursement bought is maximised and that attention is given to all long term wishes and losses. The place a declare is introduced on behalf of anyone who has died, reimbursement may also be bought for a lack of dependency, each emotionally and financially.

FURTHER INFORMATION

When you have any questions relating to this weblog, please touch James Bell or a member of the Clinical Negligence and Non-public Harm Apply, or name us on 020 7814 1200.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Bell is the pinnacle of our Clinical Negligence and Non-public Harm follow and joined the company in 2023 from Hodge, Jones & Allen. He has undertaken scientific negligence circumstances for over two decades.  All the way through his occupation James has handled an overly wide variety of circumstances regarding all forms of negligence claims – behind schedule analysis circumstances, start accidents, anaesthetic accidents, surgical mistakes,  GP and health center negligence, all forms of orthopaedic claims, together with complicated hip and knee substitute surgical procedure claims and and all forms of most cancers circumstances.