Aneurysms are an increasingly common health problem among Americans, particularly older Americans. An undiagnosed aneurysm can result in unnecessary injury and death for the affected patient.
If you have suffered injuries or complications due to a medical professional’s failure to diagnose an aneurysm, the Maryland medical malpractice law firm of Schochor, Federico and Staton is here to help. Our skilled attorneys have obtained multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for clients with undiagnosed aneurysms. Contact us to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.
What is an Aneurysm?
An aneurysm is an outward bulging of a blood vessel caused by a weakness in the vessel wall. Aneurysms are often likened to balloons due to their appearance and the way that they form. Without diagnosis and treatment, aneurysms can burst, causing internal bleeding, injury, and death depending on where they form. For example, 40 percent of brain aneurysms are fatal.
In addition, there is also a second type of aneurysm called a dissecting aneurysm. This is an aneurysm caused by a tear or rip inside the blood vessel wall, causing blood to flow through the tear and dissect or separate the layers of tissue that comprise the vessel.
Aneurysms can occur anywhere in the body, but they are most common in the brain and the aorta, the largest artery in the body.
There are a number of signs that indicate that a person is having an aneurysm. Signs of an aortic aneurysm include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Severe chest pain
- Back pain
- Signs of a brain aneurysm include:
- Severe headache
- Excessive sensitivity to light
- Dilated pupils
It is imperative to diagnose and treat aneurysms almost immediately after symptoms arise because a burst blood vessel can rapidly result in injury or death. For example, 66 percent of brain aneurysm survivors suffer permanent neurological damage. Fifteen percent of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) sufferers die before they can reach a hospital.
Failure to Diagnose Aneurysms
It is shockingly common for medical professionals to fail to diagnose aneurysm. For example, up to 25 percent of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhages are misdiagnosed upon initial treatment. Seventy-three percent of these misdiagnoses are the result of medical professionals failing to do a neuroimaging scan, one of the easiest ways to diagnose aneurysms.
Victims of aneurysms—including undiagnosed aneurysms—suffer for the rest of their lives. For example, approximately four out of every seven aneurysm victims will suffer some kind of disability. Brain aneurysms are most common in patients aged 35 to 60, with the risk increasing significantly past age 40. Some aneurysms present no warning signs and thus catch their victims off guard.
A 2004 study indicated that the cost suffered by brain aneurysm survivors in lost wages amounted to $138 million.
If you or a loved one is the victim of an undiagnosed aneurysm, you deserve compensation for lost wages, injuries, disabilities, and more. As one of the largest and most successful plaintiffs’ medical malpractice firms in the Maryland and Washington DC region, we are uniquely qualified to handle claims involving medical professional negligence. Schedule a free case review.