Daniel E. Holloway
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Emory Midtown complaint alleges unnecessary sternotomy after equivocal aortic-dissection imaging

The complaint alleges that a patient presented to Emory University Hospital Midtown with chest pain and elevated troponin levels, underwent cardiac catheterization, and then had imaging that the complaint characterizes as equivocal or poor quality for suspected aortic dissection. Surgical staff proceeded with a high-risk median sternotomy and aortic inspection despite a negative transesophageal echocardiogram. The surgery revealed no aortic dissection and the patient was later diagnosed with and treated for myocarditis.

System
Emory Healthcare
Facility
Emory University Hospital Midtown
Providers involved
Emory University Hospital Midtown / Alison Folger Ward, M.D. / Dale Shelton Deas, M.D. / Woodrow Jackson Farrington II, M.D.
Pattern
Alleged unnecessary median sternotomy based on inconclusive imaging for suspected aortic dissection
Harm
Alleged invasive sternotomy for a condition the complaint says was not present, followed by myocarditis diagnosis and treatment

Overview

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that providers at Emory University Hospital Midtown performed a median sternotomy to evaluate suspected aortic dissection despite inconclusive imaging and a later myocarditis diagnosis.

Chronology

The complaint alleges as follows:

  1. The patient presented to the emergency department on May 10, 2023 with chest pain and significantly elevated troponin levels.
  2. Cardiac catheterization showed no clear cardiac source for the enzyme elevation.
  3. A transthoracic echocardiogram and CT angiogram were performed and the CT scan was of poor quality because of motion artifact.
  4. Surgical staff proceeded with median sternotomy and aortic inspection despite what the complaint describes as a negative transesophageal echocardiogram.
  5. Intraoperative inspection revealed no aortic dissection.
  6. The patient was later diagnosed with myocarditis and treated with medication.

Alleged failures

The complaint alleges the following failures:

  • The complaint alleges that the defendants violated the standard of care by proceeding with a high-risk sternotomy based on an equivocal CTA and negative TEE.
  • Additional noninvasive imaging should have been performed to define or rule out aortic dissection before surgery.
  • The surgical intervention was unnecessary because the patient later was diagnosed with myocarditis.
  • The complaint alleges physical and mental anguish and medical expenses related to the alleged negligence.

Entities and tags

Emory University Hospital MidtownAlison Folger Ward, M.D.Dale Shelton Deas, M.D.Woodrow Jackson Farrington II, M.D.Aortic dissectionMedian sternotomyMyocarditisCT angiogramTransesophageal echocardiogramTroponinSurgical errorImaging misreadDelayed or missed diagnosisCardiac and vascular emergenciesCardiothoracic surgeryEmergency medicineRadiologyCardiology