Encountered a substantial hernia akin to a football, as reported by self; medical professionals dismissed symptoms as mere lower back issues.
Man Awarded Compensation After Misdiagnosed Aortic Aneurysm
Graham Shepherd, a 65-year-old resident of Stourbridge, West Mids., has been granted a payout from the NHS following a misdiagnosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The ordeal left him permanently disabled and unable to work.
Over a nine-week period, Graham had visited his GP multiple times and was admitted to the hospital twice due to severe back pain and weight loss. However, doctors failed to conduct a full examination and sent him home with painkillers. An MRI scan was incorrectly recorded as clear before Graham was eventually diagnosed with an 11.5cm abdominal aortic aneurysm 64 days later.
An AAA can be life-threatening, especially if it ruptures. Common symptoms of an undiagnosed AAA often may be absent, as many AAAs grow slowly without noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they commonly include sudden or intense abdominal pain, back pain, a feeling of fullness after eating small meals, nausea, vomiting, and leg pain due to blood clots from the aneurysm that block arteries in the legs.
In Graham's case, the AAA ruptured, leading to a stoma being fitted to save his life. He spent more than seven weeks in intensive care and developed complications, including a torn bowel, suspected to have been caused by painkillers he had been advised to take for his back pain.
Graham's emergency surgery went well, but he felt three pops inside of him during recovery, indicating further complications. Further surgery on Graham's abdomen would be very risky and complicated, leaving him with permanent nerve damage, muscle wasting in his leg, and mobility problems.
The lawyer representing Graham, Jenna Harris, believes those involved in his care failed to conduct appropriate examinations and arrange a MRI scan in a timely fashion. Graham's wife, Sarah, had to give up her job as a healthcare assistant to become his full-time carer. The hernia in question was the size of a football and had developed after the aneurysm ruptured.
Graham's abdominal hernia is unsightly and cannot be reversed. He is unable to work and is left with a stoma, mobility problems, and the large abdominal hernia. If you experience sudden, severe pain in the tummy or back, struggling to breathe, having pale or grey skin, losing consciousness, or if these symptoms are accompanied by severe pain, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness, call 999 immediately.
[1] Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Symptoms [2] Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Treatment [3] Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Causes [4] Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Diagnosis [5] Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Complications
- It's crucial for medical professionals to be aware of the potential dangers posed by chronic diseases like abdominal aortic aneurysms, as these medical-conditions can lead to life-threatening complications, such as ruptures, and may require urgent treatment, such as surgery and intensive care.
- In the pursuit of health-and-wellness and maintaining optimal cardiovascular health, understanding the symptoms and potential complications of chronic diseases, like abdominal aortic aneurysms, is essential to early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, which can greatly improve quality of life and prognosis.
