Death during heart procedure leads to $950K settlement

The widow of a man who died after undergoing a heart procedure has confidentially settled a lawsuit with the treating cardiologist for $950,000, her attorneys report.

John Kenneth Moser and Aindrea Pledger of Comerford Chilson & Moser in Winston-Salem report that their client’s husband, whose name was withheld pursuant to a confidentiality agreement, was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, or a narrowing of the aortic heart valve. He was referred to a cardiologist, who recommended that he undergo a coronary angiography, a ventriculography, and an aortography–all procedures in which a catheter is inserted into the heart so that x-rays can be taken.

During the procedure, the catheter became entangled and lodged in the muscle of the heart valve, Comerford said. Instead of stopping the procedure to dislodge the catheter, the cardiologist continued to inject material through the entangled catheter. The injection created an explosion, and the husband’s heart ruptured. He went into cardiac arrest, cardiac tamponade–where fluid seeps into the sacs between the heart and heart muscles–and cardiac shock.

After several emergency procedures were performed, the husband was resuscitated and started on ventilation and nutrition, but by that point he had already lost all of his brain function. The next day, his family made the “excruciating decision” to withdraw life support, Comerford said. 

The widow contended that given her husband’s serious and confirmed condition, aspects of the procedures were dangerous and contraindicated, but the procedures went forward anyway, Comerford said.

The client’s husband was in his mid-60s, physically active, and a “loving husband, father and grandfather,” Comerford said.

The settlement was reached in August 2020, soon after a lawsuit was filed. Due to the confidentiality agreement, other details about the settlement, including the name of the cardiologist and their attorneys, were unavailable.

Follow Bill Cresenzo on Twitter @bcresenzonclw

SETTLEMENT REPORT – MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Amount: $950,000

Injuries alleged: Death

Case name: Confidential

Court: Confidential

Date of settlement: August 2020

Attorneys for plaintiff: John Kenneth Moser and Aindrea Pledger of Comerford Chilson & Moser in Winston-Salem

Attorney for defendant: Withheld