Daniel E. Holloway
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Emory Decatur complaint alleges porta-cath placement in artery before multiple strokes

The complaint alleges that a surgeon performing a porta-cath placement at Emory Decatur Hospital inserted the catheter into the right subclavian artery instead of the venous system, failed to recognize fluoroscopy and bleeding signs of arterial placement, and discharged the patient with the catheter in the arterial system. The patient later suffered multiple strokes, required additional imaging and neurologic care, underwent surgical port removal and arterial repair, experienced delayed chemotherapy, and died during the course of the case.

System
Emory Decatur Hospital
Facility
Emory Decatur Hospital
Providers involved
Emory Decatur Hospital / Luis A. Quinones, M.D. / Quinones & Sanchez, LLC / Emory University Hospital / Olamide Alabi, M.D.
Pattern
Porta-cath allegedly placed in the subclavian artery instead of the venous system before multiple strokes
Harm
Alleged multiple strokes, neurologic procedures, arterial repair, delayed chemotherapy, and later death during litigation

Overview

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a porta-cath intended for chemotherapy access was placed into the arterial system at Emory Decatur Hospital and remained there until after multiple strokes and later surgical removal.

Chronology

The complaint alleges as follows:

  1. The patient underwent abdominal surgery in December 2023 and was diagnosed with cancer.
  2. On December 19, 2023, Dr. Luis Quinones performed a porta-cath placement at Emory Decatur Hospital to establish venous access for chemotherapy.
  3. Dr. Quinones inserted the catheter into the right subclavian artery rather than the venous system and concluded the procedure with the catheter left in the arterial system.
  4. The patient was discharged from Emory Decatur Hospital on December 22, 2023 with the porta-cath in her aorta.
  5. The patient presented to Emory University Hospital on January 4, 2024 and was diagnosed with complications of multiple strokes confirmed by CT scan.
  6. The arterial misplacement was not diagnosed until about February 8, 2024, and Dr. Olamide Alabi removed the catheter on February 29, 2024.
  7. A new porta-cath was placed on April 16, 2024, chemotherapy was then able to begin, and the patient died on October 27, 2024 during the course of the proceedings.

Alleged failures

The complaint alleges the following failures:

  • Dr. Quinones failed to recognize and correct arterial puncture, penetration, and instrumentation during the porta-cath placement.
  • Dr. Quinones failed to confirm that he was in the intended venous structure rather than the right subclavian artery.
  • Dr. Quinones failed to appreciate blood loss and fluoroscopy images that allegedly indicated arterial placement.
  • The procedure should not have ended with the catheter left in the arterial system.
  • Emboli from the arterial catheter, combined with a hypercoagulable state, caused strokes and additional treatment needs.
  • The complaint asserts vicarious-liability allegations against Quinones & Sanchez, LLC for Dr. Quinones’s alleged acts and omissions.

Entities and tags

Emory Decatur HospitalEmory University HospitalLuis A. Quinones, M.D.Quinones & Sanchez, LLCPorta-cathRight subclavian arteryInternal jugular veinFluoroscopyStrokeEmboliChemotherapySurgical errorImaging misreadPost-operative complicationsDelayed or missed diagnosisGeneral surgerySurgical oncologyVascular accessDiagnostic imagingStroke care