The plaintiffs brought a medical malpractice action following a balloon angioplasty procedure that resulted in a ruptured thoracic aorta.
The patient survived but suffered paraplegia and cognitive deficits, eventually passing away years later.
The court found that the interventional cardiologist and vascular surgeon breached the standard of care by failing to consult with a cardiac surgeon and by transferring the patient to the coronary care unit instead of directly to the operating room after an interim endovascular repair.
The court concluded that this delay in obtaining open cardiac surgery caused the patient's neurological injuries.
Judgment was granted for the plaintiffs for an agreed-upon amount of damages.
