We were consulted by Cynthia*. She had recently suffered the sudden loss of her husband Thomas** at the age of 69. Thomas died because of a ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). Neither had any idea that this was a risk for Thomas.
Cynthia was concerned as it had come to light after Thomas’ death that a scan which he had for suspected Pneumonia over 5 years previously also picked up the AAA, but it was not acted upon.
AAA is where there is a bulge in the main blood vessel (Aorta) which runs from your heart through your chest and stomach. As you get older, the wall of the Aorta can weaken and expand to form an AAA.
If the AAA reaches a diameter of 5.5cm or more there’s a risk that it will burst leading to massive and often fatal bleeding, if left untreated. Sadly, this was the case for Thomas.
How we were able to help Cynthia
We advised Cynthia that she had a right to bring a claim on behalf of Thomas’ estate (for pre-death pain and suffering and funeral expenses) and on her own behalf for statutory bereavement damages and for dependency having lost income from Thomas’ pension and having to pay for commercial services such as DIY, which Thomas used to do.
We obtained Thomas’ hospital and GP records and after carefully considering them, we got a Vascular surgeon’s opinion. My team and I established that over 5 years before Thomas’ death, the AAA on the scan was 4.4cm so not at immediate risk of rupturing. Thomas should have been informed about it – including the risk that it could get bigger and burst if it got to 5.5cm. Thomas would have been advised on lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of the AAA getting bigger such as stopping smoking, cutting down on alcohol, healthy eating, and exercise. Thomas would have been under regular surveillance by ultrasound scans to check on the size of the AAA.
Once the AAA reached 5.5cm, or if his doctor was otherwise concerned over the risk of bursting, Thomas would have been offered an operation to repair it. This can be done by ‘keyhole’ surgery where a tube is inserted into the aorta to strengthen the wall and prevent rupture.
Had this been acted upon 5 years earlier when it was first caught, Thomas would have been under regular surveillance and it is likely that he would have had the tube inserted and he would have made a full recovery.
NHS Resolution, who handles medical negligence claims on behalf of the NHS, admitted failings in Thomas’ care which led to his early death and apologised to Cynthia and her family. Cynthia’s claim settled soon after.
Routine scanning for AAA is offered by the NHS for all men over the age of 65. The local AAA screening service for Cheshire and Merseyside is provided by The Royal Liverpool Hospital who arrange screening clinics at various localities in the region. Their contact no. is 0151 706 4767.
For women, the risk is typically for those aged over 70 and who also have underlying risk factors such as high blood pressure or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and should consult their GP as to whether an Ultrasound would be beneficial.
If you or a loved one has suffered at the hands of medical negligence, our friendly and compassionate experts can help you. Call us or make an enquiry today.
* ** Names have been changed.