Devastating Brain Injury Following Negligent Post-Operative Care
Jackie was admitted to hospital for a gynaecological surgical procedure.
Following the operation, it was noted that Jackie's heart rate was high but the anaesthetist did not consider this to be of particular concern.
Over the next couple of hours, monitoring of Jackie's condition continued to identify a consistently high heart rate and increasingly low blood pressure, both extremely worrying signs following a surgical procedure.
This situation was variously explained by the anaesthetist and colleague as being possibly due to normal post-operative high heart rate, the use of fentanyl during the procedure and the fact that Jackie had been the last patient on the morning's list and may, therefore, have become dehydrated during the wait for surgery. She was therefore given intravenous fluids and medication to raise her blood pressure.
The possibility of an alternative explanation for Jackie's worrying signs, such as a haemorrhage, does not seem to have been considered.
Following the surgery, the anaesthetist responsible for Jackie's care at this point had left the hospital.
She was advised by a second anaesthetist as to the continuing concerns about Jackie's high heart rate and low blood pressure but did not decide to return to hospital, as would have been appropriate. It was over an hour later that she was asked to return to hospital urgently.
A blood transfusion was attempted but this had to be abandoned due to Jackie's adverse reaction. Cross-matched blood was not immediately available and had to be ordered.
On the original anaesthetist's return to hospital, she continued to administer fluids and blood pressure boosting medication.
Jackie then underwent surgery to repair the leaking blood vessel, which had been damaged in the initial surgery. When the cross matched blood supplies finally arrived, this was administered to Jackie and her blood pressure began to recover.
Unfortunately, the period of reduced blood flow following the initial procedure, and the failure by staff at the hospital to respond promptly and appropriately to this worrying situation meant that a lack of oxygen delivery to the brain had left Jackie with a brain injury.
The consequences of this have been devastating. Jackie now suffers with numerous cognitive and functional problems, including difficulty with concentration, memory, energy levels, co-ordination, obsessive, compulsive behaviours and lack of motivation as well as experiencing urinary problems.
Jackie had, in fact, suffered a haemorrhage, a recognised risk of laparoscopic surgery. Her symptoms of decreasing blood pressure following her initial surgical procedure are typical of haemorrhage but a failure to consider this possibility, a failure to ensure the availability of appropriate blood supplies and the departure of key medical personnel were all regarded by our medical expert as a breach of duty.
The appalling impact which this avoidable series of events has caused on Jackie and her family has been recognised as a result of our investigation into the quality of her medical care.
The long-term implications for Jackie's health and well-being and her need for care have all been reflected in a multi-million pound settlement which is allowing her and her family to plan for the future.
(Details which might identify our client have been changed.)
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