This case involves a 66-year-old woman who went in for a second heart valve replacement surgery. It was a long surgery that required the patient to be on the bypass machine for 4 hours. Postoperatively, the patient developed a compartment syndrome in her arm because there was an infiltrate in her IV. Multiple experts confirmed that the IV infiltrate should not have occurred and that this causes compartment syndrome, leading to fasciotomies. As a result of these complications, the patient was left in full kidney failure and was told that she will require dialysis for the remainder of her life. A nephrologist was sought to review the records and opine on whether the kidney failure was multi-factorial or due to a single event.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. Have you ever seen patients with kidney injury post-compartment syndrome? Please explain.
2. What are some of the most common causes of kidney failure after heart surgery?
Expert Witness Response E-029258
I would be able to provide expert witness evaluation and testimony for this case. I have seen patients with post-compartment syndrome kidney injuries. I wrote the chapter on rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury which includes discussion of these issues including compartment syndrome and AKI. There are many causes of kidney failure after heart surgery.
Expert Bio:
This highly qualified expert is double board certified in internal medicine and nephrology and has been practicing for 20+ years. He has held numerous directorial and professorship positions with top-ranking medical institutions, and he has received numerous awards for his work as both a clinician and an educator. He is widely published with 34+ peer-reviewed journal articles and 16 book chapters. The expert is an elected fellow in a prestigious nephrology society. Currently, he serves as Chief, Director of Clinical Nephrology, and Professor at a major California University.
About the author
Wendy Ketner, M.D.
Dr. Wendy Ketner is a distinguished medical professional with a comprehensive background in surgery and medical research. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Expert Institute, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's most important client relationships. Dr. Ketner's extensive surgical training was completed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she gained hands-on experience in various general surgery procedures, including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, appendectomies, mastectomies for breast cancer, breast reconstruction, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, and colorectal surgery. She also provided care in the surgical intensive care unit.
Her research interests have focused on post-mastectomy reconstruction and the surgical treatment of gastric cancer, including co-authoring a textbook chapter on the subject. Additionally, she has contributed to research on the percutaneous delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction.
Dr. Ketner's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from Yale University in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Moreover, she is a member of the Board of Advisors for Opollo Technologies, a fintech healthcare AI company, contributing her medical expertise to enhance healthcare technology solutions. Her role at Expert Institute involves leveraging her medical knowledge to provide insights into legal cases, underscoring her unique blend of medical and legal acumen.
