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.

System Emory Healthcare
Fact pattern Post-thrombectomy ICU bleeding and neurological deficits followed by delayed recognition of spinal epidural hematoma
Alleged harm Severe and permanent neurological injuries

Chronology

  1. At Emory University Hospital, vascular surgeon Dr. Olamide Alabi performed a thrombectomy procedure on Teresa Brooks.
  2. Over the next 24 hours in the intensive care unit, Teresa 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, Teresa 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 Teresa Brooks 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

Emory HealthcareEmory University HospitalDr. Olamide AlabiThrombectomyIntensive care unitSpinal epidural hematomaDecompressive laminectomy
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