BACKGROUND: Acute mesenteric ischemia can be a difficult diagnosis to make, but delay contributes directly to infarction, and this may provide a setting for malpractice claims. METHODS: We reviewed 180 consecutive malpractice claims submitted by attorneys for medical expert (ME) review during the 12 years ending in late 1998. Seven cases involved acute mesenteric ischemia. RESULTS: Alleged failure to make a timely diagnosis was the basis for 5 of these claims, failure to provide anticoagulant protection for 1, and failure to prevent nonocclusive ischemic infarction for 1. Six claims were closed after ME review and 1 claim involving late diagnosis was settled before trial. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of a malpractice claim is reduced by consideration of computed tomography (CT), angiography, and surgical consultation as soon as a patient is seen whose differential diagnosis includes acute mesenteric ischemia.
BACKGROUND: Acute mesenteric ischemia can be a difficult diagnosis to make, but delay contributes directly to infarction, and this may provide a setting for malpractice claims. METHODS: We reviewed 180 consecutive malpractice claims submitted by attorneys for medical expert (ME) review during the 12 years ending in late 1998. Seven cases involved acute mesenteric ischemia. RESULTS:Alleged failure to make a timely diagnosis was the basis for 5 of these claims, failure to provide anticoagulant protection for 1, and failure to prevent nonocclusive ischemic infarction for 1. Six claims were closed after ME review and 1 claim involving late diagnosis was settled before trial. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of a malpractice claim is reduced by consideration of computed tomography (CT), angiography, and surgical consultation as soon as a patient is seen whose differential diagnosis includes acute mesenteric ischemia.
Authors: Eike Sebastian Debus; Stefan Müller-Hülsbeck; Tilo Kölbel; Axel Larena-Avellaneda Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 2011-05-04 Impact factor: 2.571
Authors: Girolamo Geraci; Franco Pisello; Giuseppe Modica; Francesco Li Volsi; Massimo Cajozzo; Carmelo Sciumè Journal: Case Rep Gastroenterol Date: 2010-02-03