Thrombosis (or sometimes known as venous thromboembolism or VTE) is the formation of blood clots within blood vessels. It is an umbrella term that encompasses the entire spectrum of blood clots that can form in the veins. It is a serious medical condition that can lead to life-threatening complications such as pulmonary embolism, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
The two main conditions associated with thrombosis are:
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): A blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs, but can also occur in the arms, pelvis, or other large veins.
Pulmonary Embolism (PE): A blood clot that breaks loose from a DVT (or another vein) and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, where it can block blood flow.
Medical negligence associated with thrombosis
The National Centre for Care Excellence (NICE) has developed a range of guidance which covers reducing the risk of thrombosis and describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement. According to these guidelines all patients admitted to hospital need to be assessed for risk of developing blood clots and re-assessed every time their clinical situation changes. A missed or delayed diagnosis of a blood clot can have devastating consequences including long term disability or death, so it is very important clinicians get adequately trained to follow guidance and perform all needed diagnostic tests to prevent or diagnose them on time.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
According to leading charity Thrombosis UK one in four hospital deaths are linked to thrombosis. This statistic is even more staggering when considered alongside the fact that thrombosis is the number one cause of preventable deaths in hospitals. The risk of DVT is higher in hospitalised patients due to factors like prolonged immobility, certain medical conditions, and surgery. Some individuals are more likely to develop blood clots due to underlying health conditions or genetic factors. It is important that clinicians familiarise themselves with their patients’ medical history and take preventative measures to prevent thrombosis. Taking such preventative measures can save lives. In a hospital setting that includes ensuring patients with limited mobility wear compression stockings and where patients who are at a higher risk of developing blood clots are given blood thinning medication.
Pulmonary Embolism
Studies published by Thrombosis UK have shown that patients who died unexpectedly because of a pulmonary embolism often complained of nagging symptoms for weeks before their death. Forty percent of these patients had been seen by a clinician in the weeks prior to their death.
Thrombosis case study
Enable Law acted for Sophie (not her real name) in a claim following the death of her partner, Barry. Barry woke one night with significant pain in his calf, a ‘red flag’ for deep vein thrombosis. Barry did the right thing and called his GP. His GP was concerned about Barry’s presentation and advised him to attend the Urgent Care Clinic at his local hospital. Barry did this but, unfortunately, he was told he had suffered a muscle strain and discharged. Two days later, Barry collapsed and died, having suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism. On investigation it was found that the GP who saw Barry at the Urgent Care Clinic should have done a simple test in the form of a d-dimer – a blood test that checks for blood clots. Had this been done, it would have been found that Barry had a blood clot which could have been simply treated, avoiding his untimely death. In this case, we were able to secure over £300,000 for Barry’s life partner.
How we can help
At Enable Law we have a specialist medical negligence team with decades of experience in supporting patients and their loved ones investigate concerns about the medical care received. In the unfortunate event that medical professionals let you down, seeking compensation can help you recover physically, emotionally, and financially. If you are worried that something may have gone wrong with the care you or a family member received, we can help you get answers. To have a free, confidential and no obligation discussion with our team call us on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form so we can give you a call at a time convenient for you.
