Unnecessary Cardiac Stent Surgery Performed At St. Joseph Medical Center

Unnecessary cardiac stent surgery alleged to have been performed by Dr. Mark Midei at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Maryland is giving rise to medical malpractice claims by the recipients of the stent implants claimed to not have been needed.. Ashcraft & Gerel, LLP is investigating and pursuing these claims

Recent news reports indicate that hundreds of cardiac stents may have been improperly implanted in patients at St. Joseph Hospital in Towson, Maryland. The improper surgically implanted stents were the result of patients receiving stents when they had only “insignificant” blockages or narrowing of the coronary arteries. Insignificant blockages or narrowing of the coronary arteries are typically treated without a stent. A routine stent procedure can cost upwards of $10,000.

A stent is a small, lattice-shaped, metal tube that is inserted permanently into an artery. Stents are used to hold open arteries that have narrowed due to plaque build-up caused by atherosclerosis, sometimes called arteriosclerosis. When artery walls thicken, the pathway for blood narrows. The narrowing can be revealed by a test called a cardiac catheterization. The narrowed coronary artery can slow or block blood flow. Stents are used frequently to treat blockages in the blood vessels of the heart. Once in place, the stent helps hold the artery open so that the heart muscle gets enough blood. As the body accepts the stent, it grows heart vessel tissue over it. Stents can be made of metal and sometimes have drugs coating them to prevent the stent from becoming blocked.

Patients who received a stent implant from Mark Midei M.D. have been notified by letter from St Joseph Medical Center that they may not have needed the stent. St. Joseph Hospital sent letters starting in early December of 2009 notifying patients of the problem. The investigation is ongoing and more patients may receive letters.

The unnecessary stent procedures were performed on patients who were told that they had blockages as high as 95% following a cardiac catheterization when in fact their blockages were minor, some as low as 10%. Medical guidelines suggest that stents not be implanted unless the blockage or narrowing is well above 50%.

Dr. Midei has stopped practicing and no longer has privileges at St. Josephs hospital.

The stent procedure is common in America, but like all surgeries, it has risk factors: infection, complications from the surgery itself, blood clots and heart attacks. Beyond that, of course, is the obvious financial loss from unnecessary medical bills, lost time form work and the discomfort and pain that accompany any surgery. Stents expose patients to an increased risk of blood clots, with the potential for stroke and heart attack. Stent patients typically require a blood thinner, which itself has an increased cost and carries its own set of potential associated complications and medical risks.

If you think you or a loved one may have received a cardiac stent that was not needed at St. Josephs Medical Center, you owe it to yourself to speak to an experienced medical malpractice attorney to see if you have a case and to discuss the possibility of bringing a lawsuit to recover for your damages and injuries. The attorney will be able to ascertain if you have a claim for which a lawsuit can be pursued and whether the case and lawsuit can be brought to a successful settlement, verdict, award or other recovery. The experienced lawyer will be able to advise you on any deadlines for bringing your legal claim for damages. Please contact the law firm of Ashcraft & Gerel, LLP to discuss your case with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer.

The lawyers at Ashcraft and Gerel, LLP have been leaders in pursuing lawsuits involving medical malpractice. Our attorneys have successfully brought about verdicts, settlements, awards or other recoveries in lawsuits on behalf of clients who have been injured by mistakes committed by health care providers.

We have a toll free number to reach an attorney to answer your questions with regard to your specific case. That number is 1-800-829-7037. Please ask to speak to Robert Samet, and he will place you in touch with one of our medical malpractice lawyers. If you would prefer, please feel free to e-mail us or complete the help inquiry form on this web site. Please be sure to include your name, address, telephone number (if you wish to be called), email address and the exact nature of your question, so that our lawyer can provide you with the specific information you seek about the lawsuits arising out of unnecessary stent implants at St. Josephs Hospital.