Wilkes-Barre Stroke Malpractice Attorney

Types and causes of Lehigh Valley strokes

Call a stroke attorney in Wilkes-Barre PA to discuss a medical malpractice error. Stroke is a potentially life-threatening neurological condition in which a blood clot or vessel rupture leads to the sudden loss of blood supply and oxygen supply to an area of the brain. Fast and proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial to preventing brain damage from the loss of blood circulation and hypoxia during a stroke. Failure to diagnose and/or failure to treat a stroke promptly can result in the patient losing their small window of opportunity to prevent brain damage, disabilities or even death.

• Ischemic stroke occurs when blood clots or other particles block the blood vessels to the brain. Sometimes blood stream can be blocked by fatty deposits called plaque. That is why obesity and high cholesterol are the stroke risk factors.
•   A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures (breaks open). The leaked blood puts too much pressure on brain cells, which damages them. This condition is known as intracerebral hemorrhage. High blood pressure and aneurysm can cause a hemorrhagic stroke.
• Transient ischemic attack is called a mini stroke because it is a sign of future stroke and warming for the patient. Untreated often leads to major strokes in the next few months. It is still a medical condition by itself and it should be diagnosed and treated. Major strokes occurred after TIA could have been prevented. Patients can change their habits, lower cholesterol, blood pressure etc to prevent further neurological conditions.

Wilkes – Barre stroke misdiagnosis

There are four main stages of strokes diagnosis

1) Medical interview – it can be done in the ambulance or in the emergency room. Doctors should pay attention to every unusual symptom. First stage of neurological examination and an interview determine further way of diagnosis.

Most common stroke signs and symptoms:

• Sudden severe headaches
• Blurred vision
• Dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
• Slurred speech
• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, usually on one side of the body
•  Dizziness
• Walking difficulties
• Intracerebral hemorrhage visible on CT scan

Less common stroke signs and symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Fatigue
• Fainting

2) Second thing to do is to run blood tests and emergency measurements. Doctors check a patient’s blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar level. High cholesterol can cause ischemic stroke and high blood pressure can lead to hemorrhagic stroke.

3) Brain scans are crucial for confirming diagnosis. There are two diagnostic procedures used for stroke diagnosis. MRIs are more accurate than CT scans since they are far more sensitive. They show all issues related to a stroke and any other diseases or concerning factors within the brain. MRIs are excellent at detecting even tiny abnormalities, which are often too small to be clearly seen in a CT scan. Ultrasound of the carotid arteries or angiograms (radiology study of the arteries) can be very helpful during a stroke diagnosing process.

4) The last stage of stroke diagnosis is finding out what kind of stroke is this and what caused the condition. Treatment depends on whether a stroke is caused by blood leak or blood clot. Call a stroke attorney in Wilkes-barre PA for a free consultation.

• • 

    Stroke treatment

    Right after diagnosis doctors should administer emergency stroke treatment. Effective treatment of stroke can prevent long-term disability and save lives.

    The specific treatments recommended depend on whether a stroke is caused by: a blood clot blocking the flow of blood to the brain tissues or bleeding in a brain.

    To treat an ischemic stroke, doctors must quickly restore blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. This may be done with emergency IV medication. Therapy with drugs that can break up a clot (TPA – tissue plasminogen activator) has to be given within the first hours from when symptoms first started.

    Emergency treatment of hemorrhagic stroke focuses on controlling the bleeding and reducing pressure in the brain caused by the excess fluid. Hemorrhagic stroke can be treated surgically in many cases. Surgeries can fix ruptured brain vessels and prevent further brain damage. Hemorrhagic stroke surgical treatment includes:

    • Surgical clipping
    • Coiling (endovascular embolization)
    • Surgical AVM removal
    • Stereotactic radiosurgery

     

  • Wilke-Barre Stroke Medical Malpractice

    Delayed stroke treatment administration negligence

    Time is crucial for patients struggling with strokes. There is a short window of time to prevent brain damage. Delayed diagnosis are caused by doctor’s fatigue, negligence, recklessness, crowded emergency rooms or staff shortage. Delayed diagnosis leads to delayed treatment and possible worsening of a patient’s condition.

    Patients suffering ischemic stroke can benefit from rapid administration of clot-busting and anticoagulants. Rapid restoring blood flow and oxygen supply is crucial for preventing brain cortex and brain cells death. Hemorrhagic strokes can be manageable with surgical clipping and other surgeries. Delays in surgeries occur because of booked operating rooms and lack of qualified surgeons and neurosurgeons.

    Walkie – Barre Strokes misdiagnosis

    Patients arriving to the emergency rooms with strokes often suffer from severe headaches. It is one of the earliest stroke signs, it is common to other less severe conditions as well. Doctors often neglect to order further tests when a headache is the only symptom or when the patient is outside the high risk group. Patients with severe headaches are often sent home with prescribed painkillers. Especially in the case of young women with headaches, doctors very often suspect migraines. Other symptoms can be dizziness and balance issues, doctors diagnosed patients suffering those symptoms with inner ear infections. A Wilkes-Barre stroke misdiagnosis lawyer can help.

    Common conditions misdiagnosed as a stroke in Wilkes-Barre hospitals:

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

     

  • Other stroke medical malpractice
  • Even treated strokes can affect a patient’s dexterity and life if the treatment was improper. Medical errors can occur on different levels of stroke healthcare providing. Treatment can be too harsh for patients and cause neurological issues, surgical errors can occur. Especially, hemorrhagic stroke surgical treatment can cause severe consequences, for instance: hematomas in the area of brain, brain vessels ruptures, internal bleeding, massive blood loss, Wilkes-Barre wrongful death or another stroke during the operation or post operative care.
    

    Wilkie – Barr stroke medical malpractice lawsuit

    The failure to timely diagnose a stroke at a hospital emergency department can have serious and deadly consequences. The delay in starting necessary treatment can allow the condition to progress and cause permanent damage to the brain. Physicians who miss this diagnosis can be sued for medical malpractice. If you or your loved one suffer from misdiagnosed or untreated stroke’s consequences you may be entitled to file a Wilkes-Barre medical malpractice lawsuit. If your loved one died in cause of stroke misdiagnosis or stroke-related medical error you may be entitled to compensate your losses in Wilkes-Barre wrongful death claim.

    Trapani Law Firm stroke medical malpractice and wrongful death attorneys are experienced in similar cases across Pennsylvania. Hiring an experienced Wilkes Barre stroke lawyer may help you to focus on your recovery.

    There is no risk at all because our Wilkes-Barre medical malpractice law firm works 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. People who hire personal injury attorneys statistically receive higher compensation in their settlements. Even after paying the stroke lawyer’s fees, they still walk away with more money than they would have received without a Wilkes-Barre medical malpractice attorney. Our stroke attorneys will handle your case, bring evidence of malpractice and will deal with all legal ramifications. You and your family deserve to rest after life changing experiences. A Wilkes-Barre stroke misdiagnosis attorney is available for online consultations anytime and can meet you at Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, located in 575 N River St, Wilkes-Barre and Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center located in 1111 E End Blvd, Wilkes Barre.

    Contact a Wilkes-Barre Stroke Attorney

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