Patient is Killed by Undetected Heart Defect After Bariatric Surgery

Case Overview

This case involves a morbidly obese middle-aged male who passed away after undergoing a gastric bypass surgery. At the time of the incident in question, the Plaintiff went to his doctor to have an EKG in preparation for a scheduled gastric bypass surgery. The EKG found evidence of a hereditary heart defect which could prove dangerous in a surgical setting. The patient had another EKG performed at the hospital prior to the procedure that again noted the condition: long QT waves. Nevertheless, the patient underwent a bypass procedure and was discharged from the hospital with a follow-up examination scheduled the following week. During the next few days the patient had complaints of heart palpitations and called the surgeons office. He was told by the surgeon’s office that they would see him later that week at his scheduled appointment. The Plaintiff passed away sometime during that evening and the cause of death was determined to be cardiac in nature.

Questions to the General Surgery expert and their responses

Should the man have undergone the bypass surgery given his history of a long QT wave syndrome?

With those EKG findings he should not have had any elective surgery until the issue was evaluated by a cardiologist.

Should the surgeons office have told the man to go to the emergency room due to his palpitations?

When the patient had a new complaint following surgery she should have been seen and evaluated or instructed to go to the emergency room.

What is the standard practice for healthcare providers when a patient with long QT syndrome has symptoms of heart palpitations following a major surgery?

The standard of care is that patient with a long QT who have new symptoms need an evaluation because they are at risk for an arrhythmia and sudden death.

About the expert

This double board certified surgeon specializes in surgical critical care and is the director of bariatric surgery at her university as well as an Associate Professor of Surgery. She is a member of such prestigious professional societies as the American College of Surgeons and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. In addition to her clinical appointments she also serves as an associate professor of surgery at a university medical center. She has published multiple peer-reviewed articles in several medical journals such as the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery and the Journal of Robotic Surgery. In addition to her journal articles, this highly qualified surgeon has authored a book chapter gastric bypass surgery in an obesity management textbook. She lectures widely on laparoscopic surgery, gastric bypass surgery and the treatment of obese patients.

E-004704

Specialties:

General Surgery