Trusted DVT and PE Attorneys in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Blood clots can be deadly. They are the reason for as many as 100,000 deaths in the United States each year. They can also be costly, costing as much as $15,000 to $20,000 per person. But they are preventable, and they are treatable. Healthcare workers need to pay attention to the signs of blood clots to be able to quickly detect and treat them.

When a blood clot forms in a deep vein, it is called Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). This is a very serious condition. It most often develops in the legs but can develop in other areas of the body. Some causes might include inactivity, the use of certain medications, injury to a blood vessel, or as a result of surgery. In fact, the CDC found that around half of all blood clots occur in the hospital or shortly after a stay at the hospital.

Even more seriously, the blood clot can move into the lungs and turn into a Pulmonary Embolism (PE). This is especially life-threatening but either of them can be a basis for medical malpractice claims when harm is created. This could be due to healthcare workers not properly diagnosing or treating the condition, or because they have created the condition.

Together, a DVT and PE may be referred to as venous thromboembolism.

DVT and PE FAQs

Who is most at risk for blood clots?

Anyone can get a blood clot, but its existence and its severity might be a result of several different possible risk factors. According to Mayo Clinic, these are the top risk factors:

Age. Being older than 60 increases the risk of DVT. But DVT can occur at any age.
Lack of movement. When the legs don't move for a long time, the calf muscles don't squeeze (contract). Muscle contractions help blood flow. Sitting for a long time, such as when driving or flying, increases the risk of DVT. So does long-term bed rest, which may result from a lengthy hospital stay or a medical condition such as paralysis.
Injury or surgery. Injury to the veins or surgery can increase the risk of blood clots.
Pregnancy. Pregnancy increases the pressure in the veins in the pelvis and legs. The risk of blood clots from pregnancy can continue for up to six weeks after a baby is born. People with an inherited clotting disorder are especially at risk.
Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) or hormone replacement therapy. Both can increase the blood's ability to clot.
Being overweight or obese. Being overweight increases the pressure in the veins in the pelvis and legs.
Smoking. Smoking affects how blood flows and clots, which can increase the risk of DVT.
Cancer. Some cancers increase substances in the blood that cause the blood to clot. Some types of cancer treatment also increase the risk of blood clots.
Heart failure. Heart failure increases the risk of DVT and pulmonary embolism. Because the heart and lungs don't work well in people with heart failure, the symptoms caused by even a small pulmonary embolism are more noticeable.
Inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis increase the risk of DVT.
A personal or family history of DVT or PE. If you or someone in your family has had one or both of these conditions, you might be at greater risk of developing DVT.
Genetics. Some people have DNA changes that cause the blood to clot more easily. One example is factor V Leiden. This inherited disorder changes one of the clotting factors in the blood. An inherited disorder on its own might not cause blood clots unless combined with other risk factors.

What are the symptoms of DVT?

Some instances of DVT might show no physical symptoms. However, swelling, pain, and redness around the affected area are generally common signs of DVT. At the sight of these symptoms, it is the duty of healthcare workers to undergo further tests to rule out DVT. Sometimes, they may wrongly attribute the symptoms to a simpler, and less serious, diagnosis. If the unnoticed DVT goes on to cause serious harm, this would be an example of a possible medical malpractice claim.

What are the symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism?

Though Pulmonary Embolisms have gotten vastly easier to detect over the past few years, they can still be somewhat complicated to diagnose due to the chance of an asymptomatic PE. Symptoms that do show up, however, usually include those of DVT in addition to chest pain and difficulty breathing or coughing up blood. Again, it is the duty of healthcare workers to notice these and accordingly rule out the possibility of a PE.

Tests used to confirm or rule out a suspected PE might include a D-dimer blood test, chest X-ray, ultrasound, or a CT scan that searches PE. A pulmonary angiogram, though it is difficult to administer and is rarely utilized, could also be used to create a visual of pulmonary blood flow. MRI can also be used when the patient is pregnant or has vulnerable kidneys.

How are DVTs and PEs treated?

Treatment for DVT or a PE most often involves the administration of anticoagulants. These medicines, also known as blood thinners, break up blood clots while working to prevent new ones from forming or existing ones from growing. In majorly life-threatening cases of a PE, surgical clot removal may be an appropriate option. The placement of a vein filter, which redirects the blood so that it can’t go to your lungs, may also be an option.

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I think my doctor made a mistake. What next?

If you believe that you or a loved one suffered injury and damages due to negligence at the hands of medical professionals, contact Hoffer & Sheremet. The next steps would typically include the following:

Gather and review medical records;
Retain expert witnesses;
Speak to treatment providers about your prognosis;
Interview you and close loved ones regarding the impact the injury has had on your life;
Calculate your medical expenses, out of pocket expenses, lost wages, loss of future earnings and other economic damages;
Send a demand letter to the hospital and medical providers to attempt pre-suit settlement;
Serve a Notice of Intent on the hospital and medical providers;
At the expiration of the Notice of Intent waiting period, file the Complaint and Affidavit of Merit to initiate litigation;
Conduct discovery;
Handle motions, court proceedings, and facilitation;
Go to trial if there is no settlement.

Get the compassion and compensation you deserve.

At Hoffer & Sheremet, our team will truly get to know you, your family, and how the malpractice affected your life. We listen to you. Our unique team approach helps us get you the best settlement you can. If you believe that you or a loved one suffered injury and damages due to negligence at the hands of medical professionals, contact Hoffer & Sheremet today for a free consultation (616.278.0888), or fill out the form below.

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