Heart Surgery

Medical Malpractice with the Baltimore Heart Surgery Lawyer

The Kopec Law Firm provides this webpage to help you understand the types of heart surgeries and medical malpractice. If you have been injured, then you may need the Baltimore heart surgery lawyer.

Understanding the Heart

The human heart, a remarkable organ, is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. It generally consists of four chambers: the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle. Blood enters the heart through the superior and inferior vena cava, specifically flowing into the right atrium. From there, it’s pumped to the right ventricle and then to the lungs to pick up oxygen. Oxygenated blood then returns to the heart through the pulmonary veins, entering the left atrium. It’s then pumped to the left ventricle, the heart’s most muscular chamber, which propels blood out to the body.  

Common Heart Surgeries

Several types of heart surgery address various cardiac conditions. Some of the most common procedures include:

• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG):
  • Symptoms: Chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, heart attack
  • Diagnosis: Stress tests, echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization
  • Procedure: Surgeons bypass blocked or narrowed coronary arteries by grafting healthy blood vessels from other parts of the body.
• Valve Replacement Surgery:
  • Symptoms: Shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in the legs and ankles, irregular heartbeat
  • Diagnosis: Echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization
  • Procedure: Damaged heart valves are replaced with mechanical or tissue valves.
• Heart Transplant:
  • Symptoms: Severe heart failure, end-stage heart disease
  • Diagnosis: Echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization
  • Procedure: A donor heart replaces a diseased heart.
• Ablation:
  • Symptoms: Irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia), palpitations
  • Diagnosis: Electrocardiogram (ECG), Holter monitor, cardiac ablation
  • Procedure: Abnormal heart tissue is destroyed to restore normal heart rhythm.
• Aortic Aneurysm Repair:
  • Symptoms: Often asymptomatic, but may cause chest pain, back pain, or shortness of breath
  • Diagnosis: CT Scan, MRI, ultrasound
  • Procedure: A weakened area in the aorta is repaired to prevent rupture.

Seeking Medical Care

If you experience symptoms of a heart condition, then it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention. Here’s a breakdown of the healthcare providers you may encounter:

• Primary Care Physician (PCP): Your initial point of contact for evaluating symptoms and referring you to specialists.
• Cardiologist: A heart specialist who diagnoses and treats heart conditions.
• Cardiothoracic Surgeon: A surgeon who specializes in heart and lung surgery.
• Interventional Cardiologist: A cardiologist who performs minimally invasive procedures, such as angioplasty and stent placement.

Medical Malpractice in Heart Surgery

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to provide reasonable care, resulting in harm to the patient. In the context of heart surgery, potential claims may arise from:  

• Surgical Errors: Mistakes during the operation, such as incorrect incisions, damage to surrounding tissues, or improper suturing.
• Diagnostic Errors: Failure to diagnose a heart condition accurately or timely.
• Treatment Errors: Choosing the wrong treatment, administering incorrect medication, or failing to monitor the patient adequately.
• Misdiagnosis: Failing to identify a heart condition early enough, then leading to complications.
• Failure to Obtain Informed Consent: Not fully explaining the risks and benefits of a procedure before obtaining the patient’s consent.

Proving Medical Malpractice with the Baltimore Heart Surgery Lawyer

To successfully pursue a medical malpractice claim, you must establish the following elements:

• Duty of Care: The healthcare provider had a duty to provide reasonable care.
• Breach of Duty: The provider failed to meet the standard of care.
• Causation: The provider’s negligence directly caused your injury.
• Damages: You suffered harm as a result of the negligence.

Next Step: Call the Baltimore Heart Surgery Lawyer

If you believe you may have been a victim of medical malpractice, it’s essential to consult with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. We can assess your case, gather evidence, and also represent your interests in court.

If you are experiencing eye problems as a result of these surgeries, visit the free consultation page or video. Then contact the Kopec Law Firm at 800-604-0704 to speak directly with Attorney Mark Kopec. He is a top-rated Baltimore medical malpractice lawyer. The Kopec Law Firm is in Baltimore and pursues cases throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.