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Spinal epidural hematoma allegedly not recognized in the ICU at Emory University Hospital

This complaint states as follows: The patient suffered severe and permanent neurological injuries due to negligence at Emory University Hospital. Vascular surgeon Dr. Olamide Alabi performed a thrombectomy procedure. Over the next 24 hours, while in the intensive care unit, the patient exhibited signs of bleeding and neurological deficits, including back pain, weakness in her lower extremities, and decreased sensation. However, the healthcare providers failed to properly monitor the patient's condition, recognize the signs of a spinal epidural hematoma, and intervene in a timely manner. The next day, the patient was found to have an extensive spinal epidural hematoma causing severe spinal cord compression. She underwent emergency decompressive laminectomy surgery, but by that point, the delay in diagnosis and treatment had resulted in irreversible nerve damage and permanent neurological deficits.

System
Emory Healthcare
Facility
Emory University Hospital
Providers involved
Emory University Hospital / Dr. Olamide Alabi / Intensive care unit providers
Pattern
Post-thrombectomy ICU bleeding and neurological deficits followed by delayed recognition of spinal epidural hematoma
Harm
Severe and permanent neurological injuries

Overview

This page concerns an ICU case at Emory University Hospital in which bleeding signs and worsening neurological deficits after a thrombectomy allegedly were not properly monitored or recognized as a spinal epidural hematoma until the next day, after severe spinal cord compression had developed.

Chronology

  1. At Emory University Hospital, vascular surgeon Dr. Olamide Alabi performed a thrombectomy procedure on the patient.
  2. Over the next 24 hours in the intensive care unit, the patient showed signs of bleeding and neurological deficits, including back pain, weakness in her lower extremities, and decreased sensation.
  3. Healthcare providers allegedly failed to properly monitor her condition, recognize the signs of a spinal epidural hematoma, and intervene in a timely manner.
  4. The next day, the patient was found to have an extensive spinal epidural hematoma causing severe spinal cord compression, and emergency decompressive laminectomy followed only after irreversible nerve damage had already occurred.

Alleged failures

  • ICU providers allegedly failed to properly monitor the patient after the thrombectomy procedure.
  • Healthcare providers allegedly failed to recognize bleeding signs and neurological deficits as evidence of a spinal epidural hematoma.
  • The delay in diagnosis and intervention allegedly allowed severe spinal cord compression and permanent neurological injury to become irreversible.

Entities and tags

Emory HealthcareEmory University HospitalDr. Olamide AlabiThrombectomyIntensive care unitSpinal epidural hematomaDecompressive laminectomyICU monitoring failureDelay in treatmentPost-procedure complicationVascular surgeryCritical careSpine surgeryNeurology

Questions this example answers

What does the Emory spinal epidural hematoma delay allege?

This complaint states as follows: The patient suffered severe and permanent neurological injuries due to negligence at Emory University Hospital. Vascular surgeon Dr. Olamide Alabi performed a thrombectomy procedure. Over the next 24 hours, while in the intensive care unit, the patient exhibited signs of bleeding and neurological deficits, including back pain, weakness in her lower extremities, and decreased sensation. However, the healthcare providers failed to properly monitor the patient's condition, recognize the signs of a spinal epidural hematoma, and intervene in a timely manner. The next day, the patient was found to have an extensive spinal epidural hematoma causing severe spinal cord compression. She underwent emergency decompressive laminectomy surgery, but by that point, the delay in diagnosis and treatment had resulted in irreversible nerve damage and permanent neurological deficits.

Who is identified in this public case example?

This public case example identifies Emory University Hospital, Dr. Olamide Alabi, and Intensive care unit providers. It also tags the source-supported entities Emory Healthcare, Emory University Hospital, Dr. Olamide Alabi, Thrombectomy, and Intensive care unit.

What alleged failures are summarized here?

ICU providers allegedly failed to properly monitor the patient after the thrombectomy procedure. Healthcare providers allegedly failed to recognize bleeding signs and neurological deficits as evidence of a spinal epidural hematoma. The delay in diagnosis and intervention allegedly allowed severe spinal cord compression and permanent neurological injury to become irreversible.