Understanding Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): A Life-Threatening Condition Often Missed.
An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially fatal condition where the large blood vessel (aorta) that runs through the abdomen becomes enlarged. If left untreated, it can lead to a rupture, causing severe internal bleeding and often death. The key to preventing these outcomes is early detection.
However, AAA is usually missed by healthcare providers, resulting in significant consequences for the patient and opening the door for medical negligence claims.
What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when the wall of the aorta weakens, causing it to bulge or balloon out. Over time, the aneurysm can grow larger, increasing the risk of rupture. Many patients with AAA experience no symptoms until it's too late, making it a silent but deadly condition. According to the NHS, symptoms, if present, may include sudden and severe abdominal or back pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
If AAA is caught early through routine screening or when symptoms are first reported, surgery or regular monitoring can greatly improve survival rates. However, delayed diagnosis or misinterpretation of symptoms can lead to missed opportunities for treatment, with dire consequences for the patient.
How Can AAA Be Missed?
AAA is often missed in clinical settings due to several factors:
- Non-specific symptoms: Patients may report vague symptoms like back or abdominal pain, often mistaken for more common conditions like kidney stones or muscle strain.
- Failure to order appropriate tests: Diagnostic imaging such as ultrasound or CT scans is essential for detecting AAA, but these may not be ordered if the symptoms are misdiagnosed.
- Inadequate medical follow-up: Patients who present with risk factors like high blood pressure, smoking, or a family history of aneurysms should be monitored closely, but this is not always the case, leading to negligence.
This failure to properly diagnose or monitor AAA can form the basis of medical malpractice claims, where victims or their families may seek medical negligence compensation for the harm caused by missed or delayed diagnosis.
The Dangers of Missed AAA Diagnoses
The consequences of missing a diagnosis of AAA are severe. If the aneurysm ruptures, it causes life-threatening internal bleeding. The survival rate of a ruptured AAA is alarmingly low—approximately 80% of patients die before reaching the hospital. Even those who survive require emergency surgery, and their chances of long-term survival are significantly reduced.
For patients whose AAA is caught early, surgery or close monitoring can dramatically reduce the risk of rupture. This is why timely detection and appropriate medical care are critical.
Medical Negligence and AAA
Failing to diagnose AAA promptly may be considered medical negligence, especially if the patient’s symptoms and risk factors should have prompted further investigation. Clinical negligence cases often involve healthcare providers who failed to order diagnostic imaging, misinterpreted the results, or delayed essential surgery.
If negligence can be proven, victims may be entitled to medical malpractice compensation.
A successful claim for medical negligence could include compensation for:
- Pain and suffering caused by the delay
- Additional medical treatment is required due to the missed diagnosis
- Loss of income and future earnings
- Long-term care costs
Our team of clinical negligence solicitors specialises in such cases and can provide the necessary legal expertise to help families obtain the justice and compensation they deserve. For those seeking advice, it’s important to consult with a medical malpractice solicitor as soon as possible, as there are time limits for filing medical negligence claims.
Conclusion
AAA is a life-threatening condition that can be effectively treated if diagnosed early. However, missed or delayed diagnoses due to medical negligence can have devastating consequences.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to the mismanagement of AAA, Get in Touch with Tomlin & Partners.
If you believe you were treated without proper informed consent and have suffered as a result, it’s important to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Contact Tomlin & Partners today to arrange a free consultation with our experienced medical negligence team. We will assess your case and help you understand your rights.
For more information about AAA and its symptoms, visit the NHSwebsite.
If you believe you have been affected by medical negligence, consult our team on 0203 744 5555 to explore your options for compensation.