When a Blood Clot is Missed

Blood clots have the potential to be extremely dangerous to a person’s health. However, when they are found in a timely manner, it is actually quite easy to treat them effectively. On the other hand, patients’ lives are often placed at serious risk when medical personnel overlook a blood clot.

Common Causes for Developing Blood Clots

Patients can develop blood clots in number ways, but one of the most common way is via deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. DVT is a serious medical condition involving the development of a blood clot in a “deep” vein of your body, usually a leg or arm, that either completely or partially completely blocks the vein. DVT can lead to very serious complications. According to reports, nearly one-third of all patients with DVT develop a pulmonary embolism, which is a condition in which a blood clot travels through the deep vein into the lungs. In some cases, there is a risk of the clot traveling to the heart, which can lead to an immediate heart attack, or to the brain, which can lead to a stroke.

In addition to those risks, as many as half of all DVT patients also suffer from a condition that is called post-thrombotic syndrome. This condition is a long-term condition that can lead to a lot of pain swelling and discoloration.

While it is technically true that a blood clot can happen to anyone at any time without an apparent cause, there are a number of risk factors for DVT that patients and doctors should be aware of. Among those who are at greatest risk include patients who have been injured and who:

• Had an injury that diminished blood flow to any body part
• Underwent surgery that resulted in a decreased blood flow to any part of the body
• Underwent surgery to any part of the abdomen, chest, hip, knee or leg, including emergency surgery for a traumatic event
• Underwent orthopedic surgery or surgery to any part of the musculoskeletal
• Suffered paralysis due to a spinal cord injury
• Were placed on bed rest for more than three days

The risk of developing DVT is not dependent on sustaining a severe physical injury. In fact, nearly eight percent of all DVT cases came from minor leg injuries that didn’t even require a cast or immobilization. In some cases, DVT developed even in cases where the patient only suffered a sprained ankle or a strained calf muscle. That’s why medical experts say that getting medical help right away is a good idea anytime you suffer a leg injury.

Nearly half of all blood clots produce no discernible signs or symptoms, but that doesn’t mean they can still be dangerous. In any accident, even when you believe the injury is minor it’s always a good idea to get emergency medical care immediately.

How Blood Clots are Detected

Blood clots can be easily detected through the use of diagnostic screening procedures, but too often the necessity for diagnostic testing is overlooked, especially when physical symptoms are not readily apparent. Often, the clot is very small and can go undetected, especially if the medical personnel doing the testing is not looking closely enough. Far too often, doctors and heart specialists fail to detect the presence of conditions that could indicate the presence of a blood clot and that misdiagnosis can result in a stroke, a heart attack or much worse. Such a misdiagnosis can lead to a determination of medical negligence.

What Can You Do If Your Doctor Missed A Blood Clot?

When a doctor or hospital fails to diagnose or overlooks a blood clot, results can be devastating. Failing to detect a blood clot has a way of making an illness or injury far worse than it was when he first got medical help. If a doctor has been negligent in treating you, you will need a highly experienced attorney to evaluate your case and present you with your options. Contact the Philadelphia blood clot lawyers at Lopez McHugh LLP for a free consultation, to determine your next step.