Product Liability and Defective Heart Stents
According to the American Heart Association, coronary heart disease is still the leading cause of death in this country. It’s estimated that an American has a heart attack every 40 seconds. Thankfully, the use of stents has saved lives and improved quality of life for those who’ve suffered from heart disease. A stent can increase blood flow and prevent future artery blockages, heart attacks, and cardiovascular problems.
Unfortunately, stents can fail if they are not placed correctly or are not properly designed and manufactured. In the later instance, a Brooklyn, NY product liability attorney from Zucker & Regev can help. Below, our law firm would like to consider the hazards posed by defective heart stents. We’ll then discuss who may be held liable in a lawsuit.
How Heart Stents Work
Heart stents are tiny wire mesh tubes that are surgically inserted into blocked arteries. When in place, the stent will keep the artery open, promoting blood flow and preventing future heart problems. They are common when treating heart attack patients or addressing the dangers of arteriolosclerosis.
Stents can be made from different materials. Stent grafts, for example, are made from fabric and are used in larger arteries that have been blocked. Generally, though, most stents used are of the wire mesh variety.
Problems with Heart Stents
Many modern heart stents have a polymer coating over the wire mesh. This polymer coating releases a drug over time that is intended to prevent further blood clots. These are known as drug-eluting stents.
While effective in some patients, these new drug-eluting stents have sometimes caused newly blocked arteries among patients, making future coronary heart problems more likely.
Dangers for Patient with Defective Heart Stents
Whether a patient gets a traditional stent, a stent graft, or a drug-eluting stent, problems can arise if the stents are defective. Some issues may include:
- Re-clotting or narrowing of the artery
- Allergic reaction to the stent materials
- Damage to the artery and/or surrounding tissues
- Internal bleeding
- Infection
If you have received a heart stent and have experienced any of the above complications, our Brooklyn attorneys can help you.
Who Is Liable When a Heart Stent Is Defective?
This depends on the nature of what occurred.
If the stent was poorly designed or it was not manufactured properly, the company who put out the stent may be legally liable for patient injuries. Given that numerous defective medical devices have circumvented FDA trials and approval, this danger must be taken seriously.
It’s worth noting that in some cases, the stent is safe, but the issue is a medical error while placing the stent. For example, a doctor may not have checked for a patient’s potential allergic reaction to the stent materials. There may have also been serious mistakes when placing the heart stent. In these cases, the surgeon and medical professionals involved in this error are liable for patient injuries.
Contact Our Law Firm
Have you or a loved one been affected by a defective heart stent? Our lawyers are here to help. If you live in Brooklyn and need to speak with an attorney about issues with any sort of defective medical device, be sure to contact our team of defective product injury lawyers. You can reach us by phone at (718) 521-2764.
