Page 30 - 2022 Risk Basics - Surgical Practice

SVMIC Risk Basics: Surgical Practice

The patient developed multiple complications, including a

pleural effusion, wound infection, and chronic esophageal
stricture. Extensive hospitalization with antibiotics and

total parenteral nutrition were needed. The patient filed a

medical malpractice lawsuit alleging that the surgeon
failed to communicate to the covering physician that the

pending CT scan must be reviewed before discharging the
patient from the hospital. As a result, the gastric outlet

obstruction was not diagnosed and treated in a timely

manner. Because of this delay, the patient experienced
significant reflux of gastric acid into her esophagus over a

lengthy period of time. This led to the numerous
complications, additional surgery, and the chronic

esophageal stricture, which now requires her to undergo

repeated esophageal dilatations. Although the indications
for surgery were appropriate and the informed consent

was done well, during depositions it was learned that the
CT scan was done Friday, and the surgeon left town for

the weekend without reviewing the results. There was no
indication that he made his covering partner aware of the

CT, nor did he explain that the results needed to be

reviewed prior to discharging the patient. This failure made
successful defense of this case unlikely.

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