Vascular Surgeon

Understanding Medical Malpractice Claims with Baltimore Vascular Surgeon Lawyer Mark Kopec

Vascular surgeons are medical providers dedicated to the network of blood vessels throughout the human body. They work with patients suffering from conditions that affect circulation. The complexity of these procedures often carries risks. While most vascular surgeries are successful, errors or negligence can lead to severe, life-altering injuries or even death. The Kopec Law Firm provides this webpage to shed light on the role of vascular surgeons. It includes their training, and the type of medical malpractice claims that can arise from their care. If you have been injured, you may need Baltimore vascular surgeon lawyer Mark Kopec at the Kopec law firm.

The Path to Becoming a Vascular Surgeon: Training, Licensing, and Board Certification

Becoming a vascular surgeon involves advanced medical education and training. The path typically spans at least 13-14 years of post-secondary education and clinical experience.

1. Undergraduate Education: The journey begins with a four-year college degree. It is often in a science field like biology, chemistry, or pre-medicine, to build a foundation for medical school.
2. Medical School: This is followed by four years of medical school. Aspiring doctors earn either a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. This phase covers foundation medical sciences, anatomy, pharmacology, pathology, and provides initial clinical experience.
3. General Surgery Residency: After medical school, a five-year residency in general surgery is required. During this period, physicians gain practical experience in a wide range of surgery procedures and patient care. This prepares for further specialization.
4. Vascular Surgery Fellowship: The specialization begins with a dedicated vascular surgery fellowship. These programs typically last one to two additional years. This fellowship provides training in diagnosing and treating all aspects of vascular disease. This includes both open surgery and minimally invasive (endovascular) techniques.

Licensing

To legally practice medicine in the United States, vascular surgeons must obtain a medical license. It must be from the state in which they intend to practice. This typically involves passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or a similar license exam for D.O.s.

Board Certification

State licenses allow a physician to practice. In addition, the primary body for vascular surgeons in the United States is the American Board of Surgery (ABS).

• Primary Certification in General Surgery: Many vascular surgeons first achieve board certification in General Surgery through the ABS.
• Primary Certification in Vascular Surgery: Following their vascular surgery fellowship, surgeons can pursue specific board certification in Vascular Surgery from the ABS. This specialized certification relates to diagnosing, medically managing, and performing reconstructive vascular surgical and endovascular techniques for all types of vascular diseases.
• For osteopathic physicians, the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBS) offers primary certification in Vascular Surgery, with similar requirements, including specific training pathways and successful completion of written and oral examinations.

Maintaining board certification requires ongoing professional development, including continuing medical education (CME) activities, participation in quality improvement initiatives, and periodic re-evaluation or examinations.

Patients, Conditions, Tests, and Treatments: The Scope of Vascular Surgery

Vascular surgeons focus on the diseases of the arteries, veins, and lymphatic system, but not the vessels within the brain and the heart itself. They treat a diverse patient population, often those with complex comorbidities.

Common Patients and Medical Conditions

Vascular surgeons see patients with a wide array of circulatory problems, including:

• Aortic Aneurysms: Bulges in the aorta (the body’s largest artery), particularly abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA), which can be life-threatening if they rupture.
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Narrowing of arteries in the legs and feet due to plaque buildup, leading to pain, numbness, and in severe cases, wounds that aren’t healing and limb loss.
• Carotid Artery Disease: Narrowing of the carotid arteries in the neck, which supply blood to the brain, increasing the risk of stroke.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Blood clots that form in deep veins, most commonly in the legs, which can lead to pulmonary embolism if the clot travels to the lungs.
• Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) and Varicose Veins: Conditions where leg veins struggle to return blood to the heart, causing swelling, pain, skin changes, and visible varicose veins.
• Renal Artery Stenosis: Narrowing of the arteries supplying the kidneys, which can cause high blood pressure and kidney dysfunction.
• Mesenteric Artery Ischemia: Reduced blood flow to the intestines, potentially leading to severe abdominal pain and tissue damage.
• Dialysis Access: Creating and maintaining vascular access (e.g., arteriovenous fistulas or grafts) for patients undergoing hemodialysis for kidney failure.
• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Compression of blood vessels or nerves in the space between the collarbone and the first rib.
• Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD): A non-atherosclerotic (non-plaque related) disease that causes abnormal cell growth in the arterial walls, leading to narrowing or aneurysms.

Baltimore vascular surgeon lawyer Mark Kopec at the Kopec Law Firm can assess the medical condition you sought treatment for.

Diagnostic Tests Used by Vascular Surgeons

To accurately diagnose vascular conditions, surgeons employ various diagnostic tools:

• Duplex Ultrasound (Vascular Ultrasound): A non-invasive test using high-frequency sound waves to create images of blood vessels and assess blood flow, identifying blockages or narrowing. This includes carotid duplex scans, arterial and venous Doppler studies of the extremities, and pulse volume recordings (PVRs).
• Angiography (Arteriogram/Venogram): An invasive procedure where a contrast dye is injected into blood vessels, making them visible on X-rays. This provides detailed images of obstructions, narrowings, aneurysms, and other anomalies.
• Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA): A CT scan combined with contrast dye to produce detailed, cross-sectional images of blood vessels, often used for aneurysms or complex arterial disease.
• Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA): Similar to CTA, but uses magnetic fields and radio waves, with or without contrast, to visualize blood vessels.
• Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI): A simple, non-invasive test that compares blood pressure in the ankles to blood pressure in the arms, used to screen for PAD.

Types of Treatments Performed

Vascular surgeons are skilled in both traditional open surgical procedures and advanced minimally invasive (endovascular) techniques:

Endovascular Procedures (Minimally Invasive): These procedures involve small incisions and the use of catheters, wires, balloons, and stents guided by imaging.

• Angioplasty and Stenting: A balloon widens a narrowed artery, often followed by the placement of a stent (a small mesh tube) to keep the artery open.
• Atherectomy: Removal of plaque from inside an artery using a catheter with a cutting or shaving device.
• Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR/TEVAR): Placement of a stent-graft within an aneurysm to reinforce the weakened vessel wall and prevent rupture, performed for abdominal (EVAR) and thoracic (TEVAR) aortic aneurysms.
• Thrombolysis/Thrombectomy: Administering clot-dissolving medication (thrombolysis) or physically removing a blood clot (thrombectomy) using specialized catheters.
• Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Placement: Insertion of a small filter into the IVC to catch blood clots traveling from the legs to prevent pulmonary embolism.
• Sclerotherapy/Ablation: Injecting a solution or using laser/radiofrequency energy to close off varicose veins.

Open Surgical Procedures (Traditional): These involve larger incisions to directly access and repair blood vessels.

• Bypass Surgery: Rerouting blood flow around a blocked or damaged artery using a graft (either a synthetic tube or a section of a patient’s own vein). Common examples include fem-pop bypass (leg) or aortobifemoral bypass (aorta to legs).
• Endarterectomy: Surgical removal of plaque buildup from the inner lining of an artery, most commonly performed in the carotid arteries (carotid endarterectomy) to prevent stroke.
• Aneurysm Repair: Open surgical repair of aneurysms involves removing the bulging section of the vessel and replacing it with a synthetic graft.
• Thrombectomy: Open surgical removal of a blood clot from an artery or vein.
• Vascular Access Creation: Surgical procedures to create arteriovenous (AV) fistulas or place AV grafts for hemodialysis access.

Where Vascular Surgeons Work and Who They Work With

Vascular surgeons primarily work in hospitals. These include large medical centers and university hospitals. Many have dedicated vascular surgery departments, operating rooms and imaging facilities. They also work in outpatient surgical centers for less complex procedures. Vascular also surgeons work in private practice clinics where they consult with patients, perform diagnostic tests, and manage non-surgical conditions.

Their work is highly collaborative, and they frequently interact with a wide range of doctors and other medical providers, including:

• Cardiologists: Especially for patients with co-existing heart conditions or systemic vascular disease.
• Interventional Radiologists: Often collaborate on endovascular procedures or perform procedures related to vascular access.
• Neurologists: For patients with carotid artery disease and stroke risk.
• Nephrologists: For patients with kidney disease requiring dialysis access.
• Diabetologists/Endocrinologists: Given the high number of vascular complications in diabetic patients.
• Podiatrists: Crucial for the limb salvage efforts in diabetic foot ulcers, often sending patients for revascularization.
• Anesthesiologists: Essential for patient safety during all surgery procedures.
• Hospitalists/Internal Medicine Physicians: For managing patients’ overall health and comorbidities.
• Nurses (Operating Room, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Floor Nurses): Providing direct patient care before, during, and after procedures.
• Vascular Technologists: Performing and interpreting vascular ultrasound studies.
• Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists: Assisting with patient rehabilitation and recovery.

Medical Malpractice Claims with Baltimore Vascular Surgeon Lawyer Mark Kopec

The nature of vascular surgery and the critical structures involved is complex. Medical malpractice claims against vascular surgeons can arise from various scenarios. Proving malpractice typically requires showing that the surgeon’s care fell below the accepted “standard of care.” This standard is for a reasonably prudent vascular surgeon in a similar situation. This negligence also must directly cause the patient’s injury.

Common types of medical malpractice claims against vascular surgeons include:

• Surgical Errors
  • Nerve Damage: Accidental severing or damaging of nerves during a procedure, leading to paralysis, numbness, or chronic pain.
  • Vessel Punctures or Lacerations: Unintended injury to blood vessels during surgery, leading to hemorrhage, blood clots, or compromised blood flow to an organ or limb.
  • Improper Graft Placement or Sizing: Errors in selecting or implanting bypass grafts or stent-grafts, leading to leaks, blockages, or aneurysm recurrence.
  • Retained Surgical Instruments: If a surgical instrument is inadvertently left inside the patient’s body.
  • Anesthesia Errors: While often the responsibility of the anesthesiologist, errors related to patient positioning, airway management, or adverse drug reactions during vascular surgery can sometimes involve the surgeon’s oversight or contribution.
• Misdiagnosis, Failure to Diagnose or Delayed Diagnosis
  • Missed Aneurysm: Failure to identify or adequately monitor an aneurysm that subsequently ruptures.
  • Undiagnosed DVT or PAD: Missing the signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or peripheral artery disease, leading to preventable complications like pulmonary embolism or limb loss.
  • Misinterpretation of Diagnostic Tests: Incorrectly reading or failing to order appropriate diagnostic imaging, leading to a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.

Complications

• Post-Operative Complications and Management
  • Failure to Recognize or Treat Post-Operative Bleeding/Hematoma: Not promptly addressing significant bleeding after surgery, which can lead to life-threatening complications.
  • Failure to Manage Infection: Delayed or inadequate treatment of surgical site infections or vascular graft infections, which can be devastating.
  • Inadequate Monitoring: Insufficient post-operative monitoring of vital signs, blood flow, or other critical parameters, leading to a worsening condition that could have been prevented.
  • Failure to Address Ischemia: Not recognizing or adequately addressing signs of insufficient blood flow to a limb or organ after a vascular procedure.

Additional Claims with Baltimore Vascular Surgeon Lawyer Mark Kopec

• Lack of Informed Consent
  • Failing to adequately inform the patient about the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a proposed vascular procedure before getting their consent. If a patient can prove they would not have had the procedure had they been fully informed of a specific, material risk that subsequently occurred, it could form the basis of a claim.
• Unnecessary Surgery
  • Performing a surgical procedure when a less invasive or non-surgical alternative would have been more appropriate or safer, and the surgery leads to harm.

Next Step: Call Baltimore Vascular Surgeon Lawyer Mark Kopec

If you have been injured due to medical negligence by a vascular surgeon, it is crucial to seek legal counsel. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can evaluate your case. We can consult with medical experts and determine if you have a viable claim. Compensation can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Vascular surgery is complex, and the stakes are high. It is the important hold medical providers liable when their actions fall below the accepted standard of care.

If you have been injured by a vascular surgeon, then visit the Kopec Law Firm free consultation page or video. Then contact the Kopec Law Firm at 800-604-0704 to speak directly with Attorney Mark Kopec. He is a top-rated Baltimore medical malpractice lawyer. The Kopec Law Firm is in Baltimore and pursues cases throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.