Question about blood clots

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Specializes in Oncology.

Hi,

I don't know if anyone can help me with this but I just need some answers.

My cousin recently passed away at the age of 35. The cause of death was a blood clot.

OK here is the story. I will keep it as brief as possible. On August 13 he went in for outpatient meniscus surgery. On discharge he was not given any form of stocking or blood thinner. He was overweight and I thought this would be something he would need to do? About 2 weeks later he presented to the ER with severe pain in lower calf. Doppler was done. Told all clear, sent home. Then about 1 month later began having SOB and chest pain. Went to ER again, testing was done, again all clear. Now on October 29 he goes to ER again with severe SOB and chest pain. Testing is done and he is told that there is a very large blood clot in the leg. He was admitted but no heparin was started. Finally on Sunday morning he is life flighted to another hospital because tests show he has a blood clot near his heart. Heparin was finally started on Sunday. Anyway at 2am on Monday while doing an echocardiogram to check location of this blood clot it broke loose and well I guess we know what happened. :crying2:

What I want to know is could he have been helped. This is just so sad. Our entire family is devastated. It just seems like this could have been prevented.

I guess maybe it was just his time, but it is just so hard to deal with.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Jennifer

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Sounds like there were multiple failures, possibly beginning with doing an elective surgery on an individual with so many risk factors. Then no stocking or even aspirin to minimize clot issues. Do you know if he was advised to do some PT? Getting up and moving around is a good preventative too.

It certainly sounds like some important issues were overlooked, and unfortunately your cousin died.

Are you asking about whether this might be malpractice? Yes, it might be. I'd check--especially if he left behind children, a wife, someone who depended upon him for their support. An added reason would be to bring the the attention of someone who can make changes, that changes need to be made!

I'm sorry for your loss.....

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Specializes in ICU,acute respiratory care..

sad to hear that..doctors should have considered post surgery management plan prior to discharge, even if it was only done as an outpatient.They should really be aware of the prevention of the complications like DVT(deep vein thrombosis) that could be due to immobility,obesity and surgery.On your cousin's first consultation after surgery,with his presenting signs and symptoms,he shoudnt have sent back home but re admitted instead on the ward for further investigation and observation.Although the doppler is negative, they should have done other test like VQ scan( ventilation and perfusion of the lung,a diagnostic investigation to rule out pulmonary embolism) for instance to make sure that some clots have not embolized to the lung. DVT is recurrent and can be assymptomatic but can be prevented earlier before major complication occurs.I've handled a similar case before.This man was discharged without any prophylactic treatment for possible complication,few months later he came back to hospital with the same problem like your cousin had but he was admitted to the ward for investigation and prompt treatment protocol like IV heparin was commenced and his bloods were monitored,soon he had this test for lung perfusion (VQ scan),despite poor result from the test, the life threatening situation was prevented but he could have died as well if the doctors did not consider giving him appropriate treatment.

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Hi,

I don't know if anyone can help me with this but I just need some answers.

My cousin recently passed away at the age of 35. The cause of death was a blood clot.

OK here is the story. I will keep it as brief as possible. On August 13 he went in for outpatient meniscus surgery. On discharge he was not given any form of stocking or blood thinner. He was overweight and I thought this would be something he would need to do? About 2 weeks later he presented to the ER with severe pain in lower calf. Doppler was done. Told all clear, sent home. Then about 1 month later began having SOB and chest pain. Went to ER again, testing was done, again all clear. Now on October 29 he goes to ER again with severe SOB and chest pain. Testing is done and he is told that there is a very large blood clot in the leg. He was admitted but no heparin was started. Finally on Sunday morning he is life flighted to another hospital because tests show he has a blood clot near his heart. Heparin was finally started on Sunday. Anyway at 2am on Monday while doing an echocardiogram to check location of this blood clot it broke loose and well I guess we know what happened. :crying2:

What I want to know is could he have been helped. This is just so sad. Our entire family is devastated. It just seems like this could have been prevented.

I guess maybe it was just his time, but it is just so hard to deal with.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Jennifer

...this happened to you. I can understand your family is devastated; my heart goes out to you...

NurseFirst

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