Pre-Admission Testing and How Chest X-Rays Can Diagnosis Lung Cancer

Our Case *

In June 1999, Mr. Sanchez was admitted to the hospital. In June 1999, Mr. Sanchez underwent a coronary artery bypass graft surgery that was performed by defendant, Dr. Anderson. At the time of this surgery, Mr. Sanchez was 64 years of age and had a prior history of angina for ten years. Prior to the surgery, Mr. Sanchez had undergone cardiac catheterization three weeks before which revealed multiple vessel disease.

On the seventh postoperative day in June 1989, Mr. Sanchez was discharged from the hospital. During the course of Mr. Sanchez's pre-admission testing and while he was recuperating from bypass surgery, he underwent numerous chest x-rays.

Specifically, there was a chest x-ray administered to Mr. Sanchez prior to surgery. Dr. Ogden read the x-ray and determined there was no showing of any active disease. The large density mass on the left lower lobe went unnoticed by Dr. Ogden. Mr. Sanchez also had chest films that revealed a persistent left basilar atelectasis and left pleural effusion.

A CT-Scan was also obtained that revealed bilateral effusion and minimal right lower lobe atelectasis: also extensive infiltrate, atelectasis was noted at the left base around the descending thoracic aorta. No other lesions were noted.

Subsequent to the surgery, Mr. Sanchez was seen post operatively by Dr. Anderson. There were no follow up chest films or x-rays after hospital discharge regarding these "abnormalities" during the June 1999 admission. The records indicated that the patient was admitted to another hospital in May 2000. At that time he gave a six-week history of upper respiratory symptoms consisting of a non-productive cough.

Subsequently, Mr. Sanchez underwent an exploration of the thorax with a left thoracotomy and left lower lobectomy performed by Dr. Rausch. Mr. Sanchez was diagnosed with stage two bronchogenic carcinoma. He had a stable postoperative course and was negative for a metastatic work up. However, in December 2000 a subsequent CT-Scan of the pelvis showed a tumor mass, denoting metastasis disease.

Chest x-rays of January 2001 confirmed metastasis. Mr. Sanchez suffered a downhill course and died in April 2001.

Why were Defendants Negligent?

The initial pre-operative film was misread. There was a left lower lobe mass that was clearly visible in the lateral view. Furthermore, subsequent postoperative films were done by portable technique and did not include lateral views adequate to demonstrate the tumor mass on Mr. Sanchez.

The negligence of Dr. Anderson was the failure to follow up with post discharge of his patient to fully diagnose, explore and/or explain the abnormal densities in the lower left lobe. Dr. Anderson was further negligent in the delay of diagnosing cancer from June of 1999 through May 2000 (10-11 month delay).

Had the appropriate studies and further work up been done correctly in June of 1999, Mr. Sanchez's cancer would have been detected. The plaintiff's expert also concluded that the metastatic disease was not present ten or eleven months earlier and Mr. Sanchez had an excellent prognosis for long-term survival.

The Verdict

Mrs. Sanchez lost the benefit of her husband's company and financial support. The Lewis Law Firm were able to recover a large monetary award as a result of trial. The battle was far from easy but the reward Mrs. Sanchez received was well worth it. At the Lewis Law Firm, we go to battle for you.

* Names have been changed where appropriate