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What’s the Problem?
Approximately 12 million Americans suffer from peripheral artery disease, or PAD, a condition in which plaque, calcium, and other materials build up in the arteries of the legs.
Most patients with peripheral artery disease have mild or no symptoms and don’t require treatment, aside from improving their diet and getting more exercise. For a small number of patients with PAD, however, the plaque can block blood flow, leading to amputations and even death.
In recent years, more and more doctors have been performing atherectomy procedures to treat PAD, in which a wire armed with a tiny blade or laser is deployed inside the arteries to remove plaque. However, a growing body of medical research has found that atherectomies are especially risky: Patients with PAD who undergo the procedures are more likely to have amputations compared to those who don’t.
Michigan Doctor Accused of Causing Amputations Due to Excessive Atherectomy Procedures
A spate of recent lawsuits has alleged that a doctor who calls himself the “leg saver” and has practiced in Lansing and Grand Rapids, Michigan, has caused multiple unnecessary amputations due to his excessive use of atherectomy procedures, according to the New York Times [1.].
One plaintiff, Kelly Hanna, alleges that Dr. Jihad Mustapha performed at least 18 atherectomies on her legs in less than 2 years, telling her the procedures would improve blood flow and prevent amputations. They didn’t. Hanna’s leg was amputated in the summer of 2020.
Surgeons at local hospitals had seen so many of Mustapha’s patients with amputations and other adverse health outcomes that they notified Michigan’s medical board about his conduct. An insurance company revealed that at least 45 people had lost limbs after being treated at his clinics over the past 4 years.
After being alerted, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office filed suit against Mustapha. An expert was hired to review patient cases, concluding that his practice was “characterized by over-treatment and poor documentation.”
Mustapha agreed to pay $25,000 and take medical education courses.
Related Article: Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
High Amputation Rate Following Outpatient Atherectomy: Study
A May 2018 study published in the medical journal Vascular and Endovascular Surgery [2.] looked at the outpatient use of atherectomy for peripheral arterial disease to better understand outcomes associated with the treatment. The researchers analyzed outcomes of atherectomy done for claudication (muscle pain due to lack of oxygen) between 2012 and 2014, comparing office and hospital outpatient settings.
Major amputation was performed in 2.3% and 3.2% of 924 patients who underwent femoral-popliteal atherectomy in office and hospital outpatient settings, respectively. Amputation was performed in 5.0% and 8.1% of 423 patients who underwent tibial-peroneal atherectomy in office and hospital outpatient settings, respectively ( P = .19).
“Our study demonstrates higher than expected rates of major amputation for patients undergoing peripheral arterial atherectomy about previously reported rates,” the authors concluded. “Further studies may be required to prove the efficacy and safety of atherectomy for occlusive disease in the femoral-popliteal and tibial-peroneal segments to ensure outcomes are not worse than the natural history of medically managed claudicants.”
Study Analyzes Long-Term Outcomes of Atherectomy
Another study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association [3.] in June 2019 examined 5‐year clinical outcomes by endovascular treatment among patients with peripheral arterial disease.
For the study, the researchers looked at the Medicare‐linked VQI (Vascular Quality Initiative) registry for endovascular interventions from 2010 to 2015. Endovascular treatment types included atherectomy, stent, or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). The outcomes included major amputation, any amputation, and major adverse limb events (major amputation or any reintervention).
The researchers found that the 5‐year rate of major adverse limb events was 38% in patients receiving atherectomy versus 33% for PTA and 32% for stenting. Patients treated with atherectomy experienced outcomes similar to those of patients treated with PTA, except for a higher risk of any amputation. However, compared with stenting, atherectomy patients had a higher risk of major amputation, any amputation, and major adverse limb events.
“Atherectomy is used to treat severe femoropopliteal and tibial peripheral arterial disease even though long‐term adverse outcomes occur more frequently after this treatment modality,” the authors concluded.
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FAQs
What is the basis for an atherectomy amputation lawsuit?
A lawsuit may be based on medical malpractice, negligence, or product liability. Claims may argue that the healthcare provider failed to perform the procedure correctly, did not adequately inform the patient of the risks, or used defective medical devices.
What types of compensation can be sought in these lawsuits?
Compensation may include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and in some cases, punitive damages.
What evidence is needed to support an atherectomy amputation lawsuit?
Evidence may include medical records, expert testimony, records of the procedure and its complications, documentation of medical expenses, and any communication with healthcare providers about the risks and outcomes.
How do I prove negligence in an atherectomy amputation lawsuit?
To prove negligence, you must demonstrate that the healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care, this failure caused the complication, and the complication resulted in significant harm, such as amputation.
Get a Free Atherectomy Amputation Evaluation With Our Lawyers
The Medical Malpractice Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Atherectomy Amputation Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting lawsuits in all 50 states.
Again, if you or a loved one was forced to have a limb amputated after undergoing an atherectomy procedure, you should contact our law firm immediately. Consumers may be entitled to a settlement by filing a lawsuit, and our lawyers can help you receive fair compensation.
To contact us for a free review of your potential case, please fill out the form below or call us toll free 24 hrs/day by dialing: