Damage to major blood vessels can have devastating effects, and we, at Blake Lapthorn solicitors, will vigorously pursue compensation for claimants who have suffered this type of personal injury as a result of clinical negligence. The main causes of arterial damage arising from medical errors are surgery, interventional radiology and trauma.

Compensation can be obtained for the pain and suffering associated with the actual injuries, and for care support, therapies, further medical treatment, personal mobility, appropriate accommodation, and to compensate for loss of earnings.

Examples of our experience includes cases where:

• trauma is caused to an artery during orthopedic surgery
• inappropriate or technically inadequate vascular surgery is undertaken
• trauma is caused to an artery during cannulation for radiological procedures
• angioplasty of an artery is inappropriately carried out
• the walls of an artery are damaged during other procedures creating a false aneurysm which presses on the artery blocking the blood supply. In severe cases, the whole blood supply can be cut off to a limb or part of a limb. If intervention is not undertaken in time, this can lead to progressively worsening ischaemic damage, and ultimately to loss of viability of the limb and amputation
  

If arterial damage, or its extent, is not recognised by the treating surgeon or doctor, and urgent measures are not taken to restore the circulation, the consequences become increasingly severe. Initially, structures such as the smaller nerves can be damaged. Later the muscles start to die, and without treatment gangrene will occur and amputation becomes the only option.

Contact the Clinical Negligence team

Telephone us on 0844 620 6200
Email us at blclaims@bllaw.co.uk