Cardiac/Cardiology

Lack of blood to the heart can seriously damage the heart muscle. If this is not treated, heart muscles will experience irreversible damage and can lead to a heart attack whereby the heart stops beating. The leading cause of attacks is coronary heart disease (CHD). This is a condition where the arteries supplying blood to the heart get clogged up with Cholesterol.

Symptoms include:

• chest pain which can radiate from the chest to the jaw/ neck/arms/ back
• shortness of breath
• feeling weak and/or light headed
• overwhelming feeling of anxiety

A number of diagnostic tests can be used to assess the state of your heart and check for related complications which include: electrocardiograph (ECG); a series of blood  tests; chest X-ray; an echocardiogram ;and Coronary angiography etc.

Case Studies

Delay in Referral Leading to Heart Attack – Clip from BBC News

GP Delayed Diagnosis Of Heart Failure – Resulting In Death – “In August 2004, Mr Clarke went to see his GP because he had been suffering from chest pains for the past few weeks. He was advised that the pain was caused by indigestion and prescribed medication for heartburn.” – Read the full case study here.

Balloon Angioplasty Complications – “On 20 August 2003, Mrs X underwent a routine coronary angioplasty at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester. Prior to the operation, Mrs X was advised that she would be in and out of hospital in one day and that she would be off work for no more than a week.” – Read the full case study here.

Have you/someone you know suffered complications to a heart condition because:

• Diagnostic investigative tests (angiogram, ECG, Echocardiogram, Chest X-ray) were not carried out at all or to an appropriate standard resulting in a heart attack or  misdiagnosis or non-diagnosis of an underlying cardiac problem?
• Investigations were interpreted incorrectly?
• There was a failure of the GP to refer to hospital/ diagnose symptoms of heart attack
• There was a failure to diagnose angina
• There was a failure to diagnose a heart murmur
• There was a failure to warn you of the dangers of pacemaker insertion
• There was an incorrect diagnosis or interpretation of test results
• An artery or vessel was punctured