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Delayed response to post-thyroidectomy neck hematoma at Piedmont Augusta Hospital

This complaint states as follows: The patient underwent a thyroidectomy at Piedmont Augusta Hospital. One well-known complication of the surgery is bleeding in the neck that forms a hematoma that compresses the windpipe. That can suffocate the patient, causing brain injury or death. That can happen fast. So it is critical for any hospital that offers neck surgery to make sure their staff are properly trained and instructed to respond immediately at the first sign of bleeding in the neck or difficulty breathing. Piedmont Augusta did not do that. Because of that, the patient suffocated after surgery, suffered profound brain injury, and lingered in the hospital for weeks before she died.

System
Piedmont Healthcare
Facility
Piedmont Augusta Hospital
Providers involved
Piedmont Augusta Hospital / Hospital staff
Pattern
Post-thyroidectomy neck bleeding, airway compression, and delayed emergency response
Harm
Profound brain injury and death

Overview

This page concerns a thyroidectomy case at Piedmont Augusta Hospital in which a known risk of post-operative neck bleeding allegedly was not met with the immediate response required when a hematoma can compress the windpipe and suffocate the patient within minutes.

Chronology

  1. The patient underwent a thyroidectomy at Piedmont Augusta Hospital.
  2. A known complication of thyroidectomy is bleeding in the neck that forms a hematoma and compresses the windpipe.
  3. The complaint states that Piedmont Augusta had not properly trained and instructed staff to respond immediately at the first sign of neck bleeding or difficulty breathing.
  4. The patient suffocated after surgery, suffered profound brain injury, lingered in the hospital for weeks, and then died.

Alleged failures

  • Piedmont Augusta allegedly failed to make sure staff were properly trained and instructed to respond immediately to post-thyroidectomy neck bleeding.
  • Hospital staff allegedly failed to respond immediately at the first sign of difficulty breathing from a neck hematoma.
  • The hospital’s failure to prepare for and respond to a known airway emergency allegedly led to suffocation, brain injury, and death.

Entities and tags

Piedmont HealthcarePiedmont Augusta HospitalThyroidectomyNeck hematomaWindpipe compressionHospital staffPost-operative hematomaAirway emergencyDelay in treatmentThyroidectomy complicationENT surgeryHospital nursingEmergency response

Questions this example answers

What does the Piedmont Augusta thyroidectomy hematoma allege?

This complaint states as follows: The patient underwent a thyroidectomy at Piedmont Augusta Hospital. One well-known complication of the surgery is bleeding in the neck that forms a hematoma that compresses the windpipe. That can suffocate the patient, causing brain injury or death. That can happen fast. So it is critical for any hospital that offers neck surgery to make sure their staff are properly trained and instructed to respond immediately at the first sign of bleeding in the neck or difficulty breathing. Piedmont Augusta did not do that. Because of that, the patient suffocated after surgery, suffered profound brain injury, and lingered in the hospital for weeks before she died.

Who is identified in this public case example?

This public case example identifies Piedmont Augusta Hospital and Hospital staff. It also tags the source-supported entities Piedmont Healthcare, Piedmont Augusta Hospital, Thyroidectomy, Neck hematoma, and Windpipe compression.

What alleged failures are summarized here?

Piedmont Augusta allegedly failed to make sure staff were properly trained and instructed to respond immediately to post-thyroidectomy neck bleeding. Hospital staff allegedly failed to respond immediately at the first sign of difficulty breathing from a neck hematoma. The hospital’s failure to prepare for and respond to a known airway emergency allegedly led to suffocation, brain injury, and death.