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Stroke is the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer in the United States. More than 140,000 people die each year from stroke in the United States. Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. Each year, approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Stroke?
Symptoms of stroke may present as symptoms of other illnesses or diseases a patient may also have and include:
- Slurred speech
- Dizziness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Balance problems
- Double vision
Small strokes can also occur. Sometimes a person might experience symptoms from a period of reduced blood flow to the brain that resolves itself before damage is done, often without leaving a trace. These temporary effects of reduced blood flow are called “transient ischemic attacks” or TIAs and are sometimes called “mini strokes.” These “mini strokes” may last less than twenty minutes, might end before a person with symptoms can get to a doctor, and are typically unable to be detected on a CAT scan or MRI. While relatively benign on their own, a person suffering such temporary, less serious events has an increased risk for stroke for the next 48 hours.
What Types of Stroke Are There?
There are two kinds of stroke. The most common is an ischemic stroke, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot or a narrowed or closed artery. Blood clots can develop for many different reasons. People who have recently had any type of invasive surgery are at risk of developing blood clots. It can also be a hereditary condition. Several other risk factors exist that should alert an emergency room physician that a stroke should be suspected. In either case, blood clots can be avoided with proper diagnosis and medication.
When an ischemic stroke occurs, time is of the essence. If a blood clot is not treated right away, anoxic brain injury can take place, which can then lead to irreversible mental, physical, emotional, or behavioral disability. An ischemic stroke can be treated if it is diagnosed properly. However, if hours are allowed to pass before treatment is administered, the likelihood of brain damage and death occurring is raised significantly.
The other stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke. These occur when a blood vessel bursts and causes bleeding in the brain. The effective treatment for this type of stroke is very different than the treatment for ischemic stroke. Diagnosing and treating the wrong type of stroke can lead to further injury.
What Are The Symptoms of a Stroke?
Symptoms of stroke may present as symptoms of other illnesses or diseases a patient may also have and include:
- Slurred speech
- Dizziness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Balance problems
- Double vision
Small strokes can also occur. Sometimes a person might experience symptoms from a period of reduced blood flow to the brain that resolves itself before damage is done, often without leaving a trace. These temporary effects of reduced blood flow are called “transient ischemic attacks” or TIAs and are sometimes called “mini strokes.” These “mini strokes” may last less than twenty minutes, might end before a person with symptoms can get to a doctor, and are typically unable to be detected on a CAT scan or MRI. While relatively benign on their own, a person suffering such temporary, less serious events has an increased risk for stroke for the next 48 hours.
What Actions Count as Stroke Malpractice?
Medical imaging technology and other diagnostic tools have made it possible for early detection and treatment to help prevent stroke. However, in many cases a stroke gets misdiagnosed or is diagnosed too late. Some specific examples of malpractice include:
- Failure to diagnose the possibility of a stroke by conducting proper tests to recognize blockage by blood clots;
- Misdiagnosis of stroke as another medical condition and subsequent failure to properly treat;
- Failure to provide anti-coagulation treatment to people with atrial fibrillation or similar indicators of preventable strokes;
- Mistreatment during surgery leading to hypotension, which then leads to a stroke; and
- Failure to timely provide TPA to a patient suffering from a stroke.
Strokes are commonly misdiagnosed as other medical conditions, such as migraines, vertigo, ear infections, hypoglycemia, intoxication, etc. If your doctors fail to conduct proper tests or examinations to determine that you were, in fact, having a stroke, they could be liable for the damage caused directly by postponing proper treatment due to this misdiagnosis.
Do I Have a Stroke Malpractice Case in Philadelphia?
The Thistle Law Firm successfully represented the estate of a woman in a claim that her atrial fibrillation was mismanaged leading to a massive stroke and the woman’s death. She had suffered a stroke due to her atrial fibrillation two years prior and was put on anticoagulants (blood thinners) to prevent future clotting that could lead to a stroke. The Thistle Law Firm claimed her cardiologist took her off her anticoagulants in violation of various guidelines on managing patients with atrial fibrillation, and she suffered a massive stroke leading to her death as a result. After filing suit and going through depositions and discovery the case settled for a confidential amount.
This is just one example of the type of negligence that can occur surrounding a stroke, or even during care for another condition. If you think you or a loved one have been the victim of medical malpractice concerning a stroke, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. The Thistle Law Firm is experienced in these claims and can help you understand your legal options and answer your questions at 215-525-6824.