Lawsuits are being filed by people who were seriously injured or needed amputations after undergoing unnecessary atherectomy procedures to open up their arteries.
Need a Texas Atherectomy Amputation Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one had to have a leg amputation after an artery-clearing atherectomy procedure, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
Lawsuits Claim Artery-Clearing Atherectomy Procedures Caused Amputations
In July 2023, an investigation by the New York Times warned about a growing number of people who filed lawsuits against doctors who performed an excessive number of unnecessary, artery-clearing procedures called atherectomies, which led to their leg amputations.
Skyrocketing Number of Atherectomies in Profit-Driven Clinics
In recent years, the number of atherectomy procedures has skyrocketed. The increase is mostly driven by a small group of high-volume doctors at outpatient clinics rather than hospitals, where they can easily make millions of dollars per year by billing Medicare upwards of $10,000 per atherectomy.
From 2013 through 2021, the number of atherectomies has doubled — and the payments to doctors have nearly tripled, according to an investigation by ProPublica. The researchers warned that “patients are being caught up in a new era of profit-driven procedure mills.”
What is the Problem?
Lawsuits have been filed by patients with mild artery disease who were told that they needed an atherectomy to save their legs. Instead, after undergoing an excessive number of procedures, these patients had to have their legs amputated due to serious complications.
Risks & Complications of Having an Atherectomy
- Amputation of the limb
- Medical device malfunction
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Artery blocked due to plaque re-formation
- Heart attack
- Artery damage
- Embolization
- Death
What is Peripheral Artery Disease?
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a common condition that affects around 8.5 million people in the United States, especially adults over the age of 40.
PAD occurs when fatty plaques build up inside blood vessels, which causes them to become narrow or blocked. This decreases blood circulation to the lower legs.
Symptoms of Artery Disease
- Leg pain or cramps
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness or cramps
- Pain when walking or climbing stairs
- Sores that do not heal (ulcers) or infections
- Poor blood circulation in the legs
- Leg amputations
How is Peripheral Artery Disease Treated?
For the vast majority of people, peripheral artery disease can be managed with a combination of lifestyle changes, regular exercise, good diet, blood-thinning medications, and treatment for underlying illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
Only a small subset of people with the most severe, advanced form of peripheral artery disease are at risk of having their legs amputated.
For these patients, there are minimally-invasive procedures that can help remove plaques and open up their veins. Doctors may insert a small tube (stent), angioplasty balloon, or perform an atherectomy.
What is an Atherectomy?
An atherectomy is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure that removes fatty plaques from the inner wall of an artery. The plaques can cause the arteries to narrow or stiffen, which can reduce or block blood-flow.
Types of Atherectomy Procedures & Devices
There are many types of devices that doctors can use to remove plaques from blood vessels. These devices are sold by big-name companies like Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Abbott Laboratories.
All of the devices are used during a minimally-invasive procedure that can be performed in a hospital or outpatient clinic. Doctors make a tiny incision and insert a wire or a long tube called a catheter, which may have a laser, blade, or a spinning tool on the end to cut up the plaque.
The types of atherectomy procedures include:
- Directional atherectomy
- Laser ablation atherectomy
- Orbital atherectomy
- Rotational atherectomy
Medtronic Recalls HawkOne and TurboHawk Atherectomy Devices
In January 2022, Medtronic recalled the HawkOne Directional Atherectomy System because the tip can be damaged during use. No deaths were reported, but there were 55 injuries. Some of the serious risks include artery damage, blocked arteries that can decrease in blood-flow to part of the body, and needing surgery to remove the broken tip.
In March 2022, Medtronic recalled the TurboHawk Directional Atherectomy System due to a similar risk of tip damage during use. No injuries were reported, but the problem could cause severe, life-threatening injuries or death.
Need a Atherectomy Amputation Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years of experience, participation in over 600 jury trials, and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.
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