Pottstown Stroke Malpractice Lawyer

Types and causes of strokes

Call a stroke attorney in Pottstown PA for a free medical malpractice consultation. Stroke is a dexterity and life threatening neurological condition occurring suddenly. Stroke is a neurological condition with many levels of severity. There are two main kinds of strokes and a condition called a mini stroke.

Ischemic stroke – Most common and most often misdiagnosed is ischemic stroke. Patients suffer from an ischemic stroke when blood clots or other particles block the blood vessels to the brain. In some cases the bloodstream can be blocked by fatty deposits in veins and arteries. Arrest of blood circulation in brain vessels causes hypoxia – lack of oxygen supply. Brain cells and cerebral cortex start to die after a few minutes of hypoxia. Brain tissue damage and death can cause many severe neurological conditions and permanent disabilities.

Hemorrhagic stroke – This type of stroke is caused by sudden brain veins rupture and blood leak. Leaking blood puts high pressure on brain tissue and damages them irreversibly. Long lasting blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm and aneurysm increase risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

TIA – Transient ischemic attack is a mini stroke because the signs and symptoms are similar to ischemic stroke but it is much less severe. Untreated often leads to major strokes in the near future. TIA is a separate medical condition and needs to be diagnosed and treated. It is often a warning before a major stroke. A Pottstown stroke misdiagnosis lawyer can help.

Most common risk factors for ischemic stroke:

• Embolism, blood clots and too high level of blood coagulation
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• Cigarettes addiction and abusing
• Eating full fat dairy, fat meet, trans fats, saturated fat

Most common risk factors for hemorrhagic stroke:

• High blood pressure – hypertension
• Irregular heart rhythm
• Genetic condition like AVM (arteriovenous malformations)
• Caffeine abusing
• Alcohol addiction and abusing
• Brain hematoma
• Brain aneurysm

Bethlehem Stroke misdiagnosis:

Diagnosis has a few stages from an interview in the emergency room, through blood pressure measurement, blood tests to brain scans confirming diagnosis. Allentown stroke medical malpractice can occur on every level of diagnosing. Early stroke signs and symptoms are common for many other neurological conditions.

What are characteristic signs and symptoms of strokes?

Most common stroke symptoms:

• Sudden and severe headache
• Slurred speech
• Blurred vision
• Dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
• Nausea, vomiting
• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, usually on one side of the body
• Dizziness
• Walking difficulties
• Allentown Wrongful Death

Stroke misdiagnosis in Lehigh Valley hospitals

Stroke is commonly mistaken for other neurological conditions. Stroke misdiagnosis can be fatal and life threatening for patients. Misdiagnosed patients are often sent home with prescriptions for painkillers. Their condition can worsen and become more severe and the time window for administration of treatment can be missed. Strokes are commonly mistaken for those conditions:

• Vertigo
• Migraines
• Migrainous aura
• Inner ear disorders
• Epilepsy
• Dementia
• Bell’s Palsy

Allentown stroke misdiagnosis and lack of diagnosis or delayed diagnosis lead to improper treatment administration, lack of treatment or delayed treatment administration. Time is crucial for stroke patients.

Ischemic stroke is treated by TPA (tissue plasminogen activator) medicines. Doctors found out that TPA meds’ effectiveness depends on time. Those blood clot busters work the most in the first hour from the first symptoms of stroke. Delayed blood clot busting treatment can be ineffective and cause long lasting bloodstream arrest in the brain vessels and hypoxia. In the worst case scenario patient delayed treatment administration puts the patient at risk of brain death or Lehigh Valley wrongful death.

Possible complication of lack of a stroke treatment, improper treatment or delayed ischemic stroke treatment:

• Long lasting hypoxia
• Brain cells and brain cortex death
• Permanent or temporary disabilities
• Vegetative state
• Loss of dexterity and independence
• Brain coma
• Irreversible brain damage
• Lehigh Valley Wrongful Death

Hemorrhagic stroke is treated surgically which makes risk of surgical errors. Delayed surgeries threaten a patient’s life and dexterity. There is a short time window to operate on patients suffering hemorrhagic stroke. Delays can be caused by crowded emergency rooms, crowded operating rooms, delayed diagnosis, delayed tests results, lack of proper equipment, medical staff shortage.

Time is crucial for treating strokes effectively, but it isn’t the only factor that matters. Surgeons make mistakes during operating, those human errors can lead to severe consequences for the patients.

Common stroke related surgical medical malpractice:

• Internal bleeding
• Blood leaking to the brain tissue
• Hematoma
• Brain embolism
• Brain cells and cortex damage
• Paralysis
• Brain vessels ruptures
• Nerves ruptures
• Stroke occurring during the surgery

No doctor should tell patients that surgery is risk-free. The law says it is important that patients know the risks and benefits of undergoing surgery so that the patient is able to make an informed decision about whether they should proceed. Informing patients about possibilities of treatment includes telling about any alternative treatments.

Medical malpractice stroke lawsuit

Victims recovering from stroke misdiagnosis and their families are entitled to claim hospitals and doctors for compensation in an Allentown medical malpractice lawsuit. We handle medical malpractice in Easton PA and Bethlehem PA. Hiring an experienced Allentown stroke medical malpractice lawyer can increase chances of receiving higher compensation. Allentown stroke attorney knows hospital’s law teams’ and insurance companies’ tricks and knows how to prove the responsible party’s negligent actions.

Trapani Law Firm Allentown stroke lawyers only get paid if we are able to recover your damages and only after you have been financially compensated. Trapani Law Firm stroke lawyers handle medical malpractice cases in Allentown PA, Easton PA, Phillipsburg NJ, Bethlehem PA or anywhere in the greater Lehigh Valley PA. Our experienced Allentown stroke misdiagnosis attorneys offer free consultations online (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Zoom, phone call) anytime. Trapani Law Firm offers meeting in an Allentown hospitals: Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest located on 1200 S Cedar Crest Blvd, Lehigh Valley Hospital–17th Street on 1627 W Chew St, St. Luke’s Hospital – Allentown Campus located on 1736 Hamilton St, Diagnostic Care Center at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest.

Pottstown stroke misdiagnosis

Who is at risk for a stroke?

Anyone can have a stroke at any age. But your chance of having a stroke increases if you have certain risk factors. Some risk factors for stroke can be changed or managed, while others can’t.

Stroke risk factors:

• Obesity
• Caffeine abuse – too much coffee or energy drinks
• Smoking
• Older age – over 55
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Cardiac structural abnormalities and malformations
• History of prior strokes, mini strokes, blood clots, embolism and heart attacks
• Heredity of genetics
• Diabetes

Some people have strokes without realizing it. They’re called silent strokes, and they either have no easy-to-recognize symptoms, or you don’t remember them. But they do cause permanent brain cells damage. However most patients have some signs and symptoms. Mild symptoms don’t have to equal mild health consequences.

Even patients outside the risk group can have a stroke. It is crucial to diagnose it in a timely manner and provide proper emergency treatment. Time is a key for treating strokes and to avoid preventable damages.

Pottstown stroke diagnosis includes:

• Blood tests (sugar, cholesterol)
• Measurements (blood pressure)
• Brain scans (CT and MRI)
• Physical examination
• Medical history interview
• Carotid ultrasound
• Echocardiogram

Pottstown Stroke treatment

Ischemic stroke treatment

The main treatment for an ischemic stroke is a medicine called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). It breaks up the blood clots that block blood flow to the brain. In some cases a doctor may give an anticoagulant or blood thinning medicine, such as aspirin or clopidogrel. This helps stop blood clots from forming or getting larger. Possible side effect of those medicines administration is bleeding. There are also surgical medical procedures treating an ischemic stroke by unblocking blood vessels. Angioplasty and stenting procedures use a thin tube to deliver a balloon or small mesh tube into the artery. Inflating the balloon or expanding the mesh tube clears space for blood to flow more easily to the brain.

Hemorrhagic stroke treatment

The type of hemorrhagic stroke treatment a patient receives depends on what part of the brain is bleeding and how severe it is. Patients suffering this type of stroke can be treated with medicines lowering blood pressure and vitamin K to stop the bleeding. Hemorrhagic stroke can be treated surgically, medical procedures include:

• Aneurysm clipping to block off the aneurysm from the blood vessels in the brain. This surgery helps stop bleeding from an aneurysm.
• Coil embolization to block blood flow to or seal an aneurysm.
• Blood transfusion to replace blood that is lost through surgery or injury.
• Draining excess fluid that collects in the brain. Fluid can build up after a stroke, pushing the brain against the skull and causing damage. Draining the fluid can relieve that pressure.
• Surgeries to remove pooled blood.

Pottstown stroke misdiagnosis

Diagnosis and treatment administration in a timely manner are crucial for a patient’s chances of recovery. Sadly, about 10% of strokes are misdiagnoses in the USA. Stroke’s early symptoms and signs are mutual for many neurological conditions. This is a cause of many misdiagnoses. The other reason why patients are sent home without proper diagnosis and treatment occurs when they are outside the risk group. For example : young women rather than men struggle with migraine so the doctors often neglect to run the test for diagnosing stroke. Other causes of Pottstown stroke misdiagnosis are: crowded emergency rooms, lack of medical equipment, medical staff shortage. A stroke attorney in Pottstown PA can help if you’ve suffered from Pottstown medical negligence.

Other stroke medical errors

Stroke misdiagnosis can lead to delayed treatment or none treatment at all. Sometimes even treatment administered on time can be harmful for the patient. Medical errors during stroke treatment include: massive bleeding caused by vessel rupture during surgery or caused by unnecessary blood thinner or anticoagulant medicines administration, hematomas in the brain tissue or in the subarachnoid space (the space between the brain and the membranes that cover the brain).

Common conditions misdiagnosed as a stroke in Pottstown hospitals:

• Vertigo
• Migraines
• Migrainous aura
• Inner ear disorders
• Epilepsy
• Dementia
• Bell’s Palsy

Pottstown stroke medical malpractice lawsuit

Patients untreated for strokes are treated by temporary or permanent disabilities, paralysis, further neurological conditions, hematomas, long and costly recovery. There are mental losses as well, patients who experienced improper medical care or stroke misdiagnosis can suffer from anxiety attacks, depression, post traumatic stress disorder. Both stroke medical malpractice victims and their family members may be entitled to file a Pottstown medical malpractice settlement. Trapani Law stroke attorneys will receive the highest possible compensation for your losses.

Common stroke medical error’s victim’s losses:

• Medical bills
• Medical procedures not covered by patient’s health insurance
• Nursing care
• Loss of wages
• Long recovery including physical therapy and other medical procedures
• Mental losses: post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression
• Temporary or permanent disabilities
• Loss of employment and loss of ability to work
• Pottstown Wrongful Death

Hiring a Pottstown stroke medical malpractice lawyer is time saving and money saving. People who hire personal injury attorneys statistically receive higher compensation in their settlements. Even after paying the lawyer’s fees, they still walk away with more money than they would have received without a stroke lawyer in Pottstown Pennsylvania. Pottstown stroke medical error’s victims can focus on rest and recovery while professionals manage all the legal steps. Trapani Law Firm stroke attorneys work on the basis of a contingency fee – that is, we only get paid if we are able to recover your damages and only after you have been financially compensated. Our medical malpractice attorney is available to discuss your case anytime online, via: WhatsApp, Zoom, FaceTime, phone, Messenger etc. We can meet you at any of Pottstown hospitals: Pottstown Hospital – Tower Health, 1600 E High St, Pottstown, PA 19464, Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, 13 Armand Hammer Blvd #102, Pottstown, PA 19464, Tower Health Medical Group Occupational Health – Pottstown, 81 Robinson St, Pottstown, PA 19464.

Pottstown stroke wrongful death settlement

Patients suffering strokes most often have chances to survive and recover. Unfortunately, because there is a brief window to diagnose and treat both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, opportunities to successfully treat a victim of stroke can be missed or lost. Failure to diagnose and treat patients in timely manners may cause death. If your loved one died because of a stroke and it could have been prevented, you may be entitled to file a Pottstown wrongful death lawsuit settlement. Trapani Law Firm experienced wrongful death lawyers help the deceased’s family to file a claim against healthcare providers and prove medical staff’s negligence. Pottstown wrongful death compensation can help the deceased’s family to cover funeral costs and loss of wages.

Contact a Pottstown Stroke Attorney

If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke due to medical malpractice, contact a Pottstown stroke personal injury lawyer at The Trapani Law Firm for a free consultation by calling (610) 351 – 2330 or contact us.