Many people have pacemakers implanted to help regulate their heartbeat. However, implantation of a faulty pacemaker or errors during the surgical procedure can cause a person to suffer serious medical complications. A second surgery may be required to correct issues with a pacemaker, or the errors can put a person at risk of potentially fatal emergencies like heart attack or stroke. An experienced product liability or medical malpractice attorney from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. can explain your legal options and fail a faulty pacemaker lawsuit on your behalf. Call now for a free case review.
Complications and Risks Associated with Pacemakers
Implantation of a pacemaker comes with the possibility of various complications and risks to long-term health. Some potential complications or pacemaker operation risks that can arise during surgery to implant a pacemaker include:
- Infection at the surgical site or along the pacemaker leads
- Damage to nerves and blood vessels during surgery
- Pneumothorax, or a punctured lung caused during the implantation procedure
- Allergic reaction to pacemaker materials
- Tissue scarring around the pacemaker, which can make it more difficult for the heart to beat
- Blood clots that form around the pacemaker leads, which can obstruct blood flow that can cause pain or swelling or increase the risk of heart attack or stroke
- Dislodgment or breakage of pacemaker leads, which will require a second surgery to repair or replace the pacemaker
- Malfunctioning pacemakers, which can cause symptoms such as dizziness and shortness of breath, requiring a second surgery to replace the pacemaker
Various parties can bear liability depending on the cause(s) of a patient’s complications or faulty pacemaker symptoms. A patient’s physician can be held liable for faulty pacemaker operation if it resulted from the surgeon’s negligent implantation, leading to problems such as damaged/disconnected leads, improper electrical signals to the heart, or the formation of blood clots. A physician may also be liable for choosing a pacemaker model containing materials to which the patient has an allergy.
A pacemaker manufacturer may be liable for a faulty pacemaker caused by design or manufacturing defects. For example, a pacemaker may suffer from design or manufacturing defects that cause the leads to break or prevent the pacemaker from delivering the correct electrical signals to maintain a healthy heart rhythm.
Pacemaker Malfunction Signs and Symptoms
Faulty pacemaker symptoms should alert patients to the possibility that something has gone wrong with their pacemaker or its implantation. Common signs of a faulty pacemaker include:
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Heart palpitations
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath, especially during activity
- Chest pain
- Swelling or redness at the implantation site
- Episodes of fainting
- Hiccups
- Muscle spasms
- High temperature
- Unusually slow or fast heartbeat
Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. to Discuss Your Legal Options
When you experience complications following the implantation of a pacemaker, you may have a legal claim against your physician or other parties to seek compensation for losses you have incurred, including additional medical expenses to repair or replace your pacemaker, extra lost income from work, pain and suffering, and permanent disability. Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced attorney to learn more about your rights in pursuing a faulty pacemaker lawsuit.
