69-year-old Female Patient Dies From Unrepaired Coronary Sinus Rupture
Type of Injury: Wrongful Death
Type of Case: Settlement
Settlement Amount: Confidential
On March 5, 2012, F-69 sustained an isolated, first time neurological event, presumably an embolic CVA (cerebrovascular accident) and presented to a Chicago-area hospital with dysarthria, altered gait, and right facial droop. A MRI performed revealed small subcortical and cortical bland infarcts. Due to the distribution of the infarcts, a cardiogenic source of emboli was considered. Later, a transthoracic echo was performed that revealed a defect on the left coronary cusp presumed to be fibroelastoma.
On March 13, 2012, F-69 underwent resection of suspected fibroelastoma tumor from the left coronary cusp of the aortic valve. During the course of the procedure a linear tear (rupture) of the coronary sinus occurred near the entrance into the right atrium. The initial repair (regular sutures and pledgeted sutures) was made without arresting the hear. Bleeding persisted and the heart was arrested. Subsequent attempts to tamponade the area include the use patches and glues to repair the condition of the tear. F-69 died at 1:34 a.m. on March 13, 2012 due to, inter alia, an unrepaired tear of her coronary sinus.
A high-low settlement was before closing arguments during jury trial.
The above summary is specific to a particular case and is not intended as a projected outcome on any other matter.