The new Preventing Surgical Fires Initiative was launched with the goal of increasing awareness about the causes of operating room fires, disseminating prevention tools and promoting practices that reduce the risk of surgical fires occurring. The FDA has released a video on how fires start in operating rooms and how to prevent them, recommendations for healthcare professionals and information for patients.

According to the FDA, an estimated 550 to 650 surgical fires occur every year in the United States, despite the fact that the causes are well-understood and often preventable. These fires can cause serious burns, disfigurement and deaths.

Surgical fires typically occur when there is a high concentration of oxygen in the operating room. The greatest risk of fires comes from open oxygen delivery systems, like nasal cannula or masks. These devices also present a higher risk to the patient, as most deaths occur when fire in the patient’s airway is ignited. Closed delivery systems, like a laryngeal mask, present less of a threat of fire. Materials that would not normally burn may catch fire in oxygen-rich environments.

For an operating room fire to start, there also needs to be an ignition source, like a laser or fiber optic light, and a fuel source, such as surgical drapes or alcohol-based products. In some cases, the patient’s body is the fuel source.

The FDA has issued a list of recommendations that the agency believes can help prevent surgical fires. A fire risk assessment should be conducted before each procedure, the FDA said, with procedures that involve supplemental oxygen and operation of an ignition source near the oxygen considered the highest risk procedures.

Healthcare professionals have been urged to use supplemental oxygen safely by first evaluating whether supplemental oxygen is necessary. If it is, then they should deliver the minimum concentration needed to provide adequate oxygen to the patient.

The FDA also recommended that healthcare professionals use a closed oxygen delivery system whenever possible, especially if high concentrations of supplemental oxygen are needed. Additional precautions can be taken by applying techniques that prevent oxygen from building up in the operating area.

Another means of preventing surgical fires is the safe use of alcohol-based skin preparations and surgical equipment. Healthcare professionals should prevent alcohol-based antiseptics from pooling, remove alcohol-soaked materials from the prep area and allow the skin to dry adequately and making sure it is dry before surgery. Healthcare professionals should also try to use alternative surgical devices when a procedure calls for the use of a possible ignition source, like a laser, near a supplemental oxygen supply. They should also never place ignition sources on the patient or drapes and should instead use a holster, keep good communication among the surgical team and anesthesia professional about the use and location of ignition sources and oxygen, and have a surgical fire management plan in place.

The FDA is partnering with several medical organizations to help spread word of the initiative, including the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Society for Healthcare Engineering, the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and others.

OPERATING ROOM FIRE MALPRACTICE LAWSUIT

Through the exercise of the proper standards of medical care, operating room problems can often be prevented. As a result, individuals who have suffered serious or fatal injuries as a result of a surgery fire may be able to pursue financial compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

To review a potential case for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>MORE INFORMATION: Mesothelioma from Asbestos Exposure

For decades, American workers in construction, navy shipyards, the automotive industry, insulators and other professions worked in close proximity to products containing asbestos, without realizing that they were potentially poisoning themselves. They were also unwittingly allowed to put their families at risk by carrying home asbestos fibers on their clothing and in their hair.

Most companies who exposed these workers to asbestos were well aware of the health risks long before most uses of asbestos were banned in the United States. However, they often failed to take steps to warn about the dangers or protect workers, placing their desire for profits before the safety of these individuals and their families.

More than three decades after most use of asbestos in the United States was stopped, thousands of people are continuing to be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year due to the long latency period between exposure and the first symptoms of the terrible disease.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of a lung cancer and chest cavity cancer caused by damage from asbestos fibers the victim has breathed in over long periods of time. By the time the cancer becomes symptomatic, it is usually too late for treatment and mesothelioma victims often only have months to live after a diagnosis.

Some estimate that mesothelioma continues to kill more than 3,000 Americans every year. However, the use of asbestos has still not been totally banned.

>>MORE INFORMATION: Cerebral Palsy Treatment Options

Researchers at a number of institutions, including Harvard and the University of Iowa, indicate that they have found patients with cerebral palsy find the apps to be more engaging than traditional therapy, which can involve a lot of repetition that children quickly find boring. However, the apps provide exciting and interesting visuals, instant feedback and can also take very accurate response-time measurements that therapists often cannot. In many cases, they appear to work better and faster than more traditional means of therapy for cerebral palsy.

Some applications are focused on increasing wrist and arm movement in cerebral palsy children, some help developmentally delayed children communicate by helping them create sentences using pictures, and others help those on the autism spectrum identify emotions, feelings and needs and communicate them to those around them.

While some of the apps are free, others can cost nearly $200. However, that is far less than non-multitouch technology therapy programs on more traditional computers, which can cost between $4,000 and $7,000.

Researchers indicate that there have been few studies on the actual effectiveness of the programs, and many of the developers are relying on those using the apps to help them determine how beneficial and widespread their use will be.

Cerebral palsy can be caused by a brain injury that occurs before, during or shortly after birth. If the brain of a baby is deprived of oxygen, it can result in irreversible damage that leaves the child with developmental problems, loss of motor functions and other life-long injuries and disabilities associated with cerebral palsy.

Although cerebral palsy can occur without a medical mistake, when the exercise of the proper standards of medical care could have prevented the child’s brain from being deprived of oxygen, the cerebral palsy lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. may be able to obtain compensation for the child through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

To find out what legal options may be available and to review a potential cerebral palsy malpractice lawsuit with one of our attorneys, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>MORE INFORMATION: Depakote Spina Bifida Side Effects

Abbott Laboratories began marketing Depakote in the United States in 1978. Although it appears that the drug maker should have discovered the risk of birth defects from Depakote before or shortly after the drug was introduced, they sold the drug for years without adequate warnings about the risks associated with use during pregnancy. In addition, even after medical studies began to come out in the 1990s, the warnings provided for women and the medical community continued to be vague and confusing.

Side effects of Depakote use while pregnant have been linked to an increased risk of major congenital malformations or birth defects, especially when the anti-epileptic medication is used during the first few weeks of pregnancy, a time when many women do not even know they are pregnant. Depakote has been linked to a number of problems for unborn children, including:

• Spina Bifida
• Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip
• Cranial defects
• Limb Malformations
• Heart Defects
• Urinary Problems
• Developmental Delays

A study released in 1995 suggested that the risk of Depakote neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, were ten time higher than with other antiepileptic medications available to prevent seizures. Another study determined that 11% of all infants whose mothers took Depakote early in pregnancy were born with birth defects.

Although safer alternatives were available for pregnant women or women who could become pregnant, Abbott has failed to adequately warn about the risk of birth defects and has attempted to downplay the side effects for unborn children. Even after warnings were added to the medication’s label, Abbott used confusing and understated language to suggest that women should weigh the potential risk, rather than adequately warning about the severity of the problems so that women could understand the true nature and extent of the risk.

LAWSUITS FOR PROBLEMS FROM DEPAKOTE PREGNANCY USE

The Depakote birth defect lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential lawsuits for children born with health problems that may have been caused by the mother’s use of the medication during pregnancy. If adequate warnings and information about the risk of Depakote pregnancy side effects for babies had been provided, many women would have avoided use of the medication or taken steps to ensure that they did not become pregnant on Depakote.

To review whether your child or family member may be entitled to compensation through a Depakote lawsuit, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

According to a report by The Baltimore Sun, Dr. Kiely performed hundreds of inappropriate laser eye surgery procedures at an outpatient clinic run by Bon Secours Hospital between October 29, 2002 and April 14, 2009. In a five-count lawsuit filed on March 11 by the U.S. government, it is alleged that Dr. Kiely billed Medicare and Medicaid for hundreds of medically unnecessary eye procedures.

The government says that Kiely performed Argon Laser Trabesculoplasty (ALT) and Lysis of Adhesions (LOA) surgeries on a group of about three dozen patients.

Argon Laser Trabesculoplasty (ALT) is used to correct vision problems caused by open-angle glaucoma. It is usually not performed more than twice on a patient and usually only on one eye. The lawsuit claims Kiely performed the operation more than two times on each eye of some of his patients, and in some cases performed it on patients who did not even need the first procedure.

Lysis of Adhesions (LOA) is used to treat a rare complication from cataract surgery. Kiely performed the laser surgery procedure 1,140 times over the last five years; 18 times more than any other doctor in the state of Maryland. He also performed it on both eyes and more than twice per eye per patient, according to the lawsuit.

All of the charges stem from Kiely’s work at the outpatient clinic for Bon Secours, where he worked as an independent contractor. Kiely’s primary ophthalmology practice was located at Mercy Medical Center, but the charges brought by the U.S. government only focus on laser eye surgery procedures performed at Bon Secours.

The charges come at a time when another Maryland doctor is also under investigation for performing unnecessary medical procedures. Dr. Mark Midei is at the center of an ongoing coronary heart stent scandal at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Maryland, which removed Midei after an investigation revealed that he may have implanted nearly 600 unneeded stents in patients from 2007 through mid-2009.

DR. KIELY BON SECOURS LASER EYE SURGERY LAWSUITS

The medical malpractice lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent a number of individuals who are pursuing a St. Joseph stent lawsuit as a result of the unnecessary heart procedures performed by Dr. Mark Midei.

The potential for lawsuits against Dr. Kiely and Bon Secours are also being evaluated for individuals who have experienced serious problems as a result of an unnecessary eye surgery. To review a potential claim, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>PRIOR POST: Preventing Hospital Infections

The study was published in this month’s issue of the medical journal Anesthesia & Analgesia, finding that some operating room personnel are not exercising effective hand washing to get rid of germs before operating on patients. The researchers discovered that bacteria made its way into the operating room in 90% of all procedures.

The researchers, from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, found bacteria in the valves of intravenous lines in 11.5% of all operations. In half of those cases, the same bacteria was found on the hands of anesthesiologists and nurse-anesthetists. Poor intraoperative cleaning was identified as a major cause of bacteria in the operating room, and researchers suggested that additional intraoperative cleaning practices should be explored.

Infections pose a serious risk, especially for those undergoing surgery or confined to a hospital or nursing home. The CDC has previously reported that there are more than 2 million hospital infections acquired each year, resulting in about 90,000 deaths annually. Another 1.5 million long term care and nursing home infections occur every year.

In many cases, operation infections are preventable and failure to follow simple preventative steps, such as washing hands, can have catastrophic consequences.

There has been an increase in the number of hospital infection lawsuits filed throughout the United States in recent years, as experts widely believe that most of these potentially life-threatening infections can now be prevented if steps are taken by the hospital and staff. These steps could include improved methods of handling catheter during insertion, leaving them in for shorter periods and improved hygiene. Many hospitals have instituted new rules to ensure that hands are washed and increased efforts are being taken to keep areas lie the ICU more sterile and catheters clean.

OPERATION INFECTION LAWSUITS

The medical malpractice lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential operation infection lawsuits for serious injuries caused by an infection during surgery that could have been prevented with the exercise of the proper standards of medical care. To review a potential case for a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

Last weekend, an investigative report published by the Baltimore Sun uncovered data that suggests Dr. Mark Midei at St. Joseph Medical Center was not the only Maryland doctor who was implanting cardiac stents when patients did not need them. According to data obtained by the paper, it appears that some doctors at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore and Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park also decided to implant stents at a rate that greatly exceeds the state’s average.

Hospitals across Maryland gave cardiac catheterization patients heart stents about 35 percent of the time on average, but at St. Joseph they performed the $14,000 medical procedure 46 percent of the time, and at Union Memorial the rate was 44 percent. Together, St. Joseph and Union Memorial have taken in $760 million from cardiac catheterization patients and stent implant procedures since 2005, and some of those procedures may have been performed for financial reasons instead of for medical need.

Since information came out that Dr. Midei was performing unnecessary stent procedures at St. Joseph Medical Center, a subsequent review of medical records found that some patients who were told that they had substantial blockages that required a stent placement actually only had minor blockages, sometimes as low as 10%.

Although officials from Union Memorial Hospital told The Sun that their high rate of stent placements was a result of the fact that cardiologists refer their most difficult patient cases to the hospital, it appears that some Union Memorial patients were also given stents when they were not medically necessary.

Over the past year, since the problems with heart stents at St. Joseph Medical Center brought increased scrutiny and media attention to the field, the rate of stent placements at Union Memorial has decreased according to The Sun. The hospital’s stent placement rates are reportedly now closer to the state average, even though there is no indication that referring cardiologists stopped sending their most difficult cases to the hospital.

UNION MEMORIAL STENT LAWSUITS

In addition to reviewing potential St. Joseph stent lawsuits, our lawyers are also investigating potential claims for individuals who received a cardiac stent at Union Memorial Hospital since 2005. Potential cases will be reviewed to determine whether the doctor may have implanted a stent that was not needed.

All cases are reviewed on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained. To review a potential case for yourself or a family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

Recent research highlights the risk of birth defects from Depakote, finding that exposure to sodium valproate, which is contained in the medication, more than double the risk for major congenital malformations in the fetus when compared with other epilepsy drugs.

Reports of Depakote birth defects have been found when the medication is taken as early as the first trimester. Unfortunately, many women were provided with inadequate warnings about the risk of birth defects from Depakote. Lawsuits are being reviewed to pursue compensation from the drug makers for failing to take adequate steps to ensure women who are pregnant or may become pregnant while taking Depakote were aware of the risk of birth defects.

Research presented last week at the 9th European Congress on Epileptology underscores the importance of providing proper warnings, as other epilepsy drugs do not appear to carry the same risk. When compared to use of Tegretol (carbamazepine) and Lamictal (lamotrigine) by pregnant women, the risk of birth defects from Depakote was found to be substantially higher.

LAWSUITS FOR DEPAKOTE BIRTH DEFECTS

Free consultations and claim evaluations are being provided by the Depakote lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. to help determine if compensation may be available for children born with birth defects or other malformations after use of the medication during pregnancy. Potential lawsuits over birth defects from Depakote are being reviewed for:

• Spina Bifida
• Cleft Palate
• Abnormal Skull Formation
• Malformed Limbs and Extra Toes/Fingers
• Urinary Problems
• Heart Problems
• Mental Disabilities

To review a potential case for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation with a lawyer for Depakote.

>>INFORMATION: Hospital Infection Malpractice Lawsuits

The federal health officials report suggests that the rate of these hospital infections is declining, with 18% less infections being reported by hospitals than the CDC expected. However, less than 25% of the nation’s hospitals actually turned in their infection rate data to the CDC.

The survey was the first attempt by the CDC to quantify hospital-acquired infections by getting the nation’s hospitals to self-report. However, the task was made difficult by the reality that only 17 states actually mandate that hospitals keep track of the information, and only 5 of those states actually verify that the data is accurate.

Central line infections occur in patients who have had a central venous catheter inserted during a hospital stay. The central venous catheters (CVC) are associated with more infections than peripheral intravenous catheters, and often result in more serious infections and are more likely to occur in people who are severely ill.

These serious and often life-threatening hospital infections can be largely prevented by good hygiene practices by hospital staff and following the proper standards of medical care. By sanitizing hands before and after any skin contact with patients, the risk of contamination can be reduced.

CENTRAL LINE INFECTION LAWYERS

In recent years, a growing number of central line infection lawsuits have been filed as more and more experts have come to the opinion that through proper preventative steps, these infections can often be avoided.

The hospital infection lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential lawsuits over central line infections which result in serious consequences. To review a potential claim with our attorneys, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>MORE INFORMATION: St. Joseph Unneeded Stent Surgery Lawsuits

The Baltimore Sun reported this weekend that investigators are concerned that Dr. Mark G. Midei was not the only doctor inserting heart stents in patients who did not need them. The investigators have identified a number of cardiologists across the state who performed an unusually high number of the procedures, but have not yet released the names of those doctors.

Since late last year, St. Joseph Medical Center has sent letters to about 585 former patients of Dr. Midei that they may have undergone unnecessary heart stent implant surgery. However, our St. Joseph stent lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. have been looking into potential cases for stent patients of Dr. Midei who have not received a St. Joseph letter, as it appears that the hospital’s investigation was very limited. While the hospital only looked at Dr. Midei stent implants back to 2007, our lawyers are independently investigating stent implant procedures since late 2003.

Given the financial incentive doctors have to implant a stent, which typically cost about $10,000.00, it is not entirely surprising that some doctors allowed financial incentives to guide patient treatment.

According to the Baltimore Sun report:

State investigators, after interviewing medical specialists and analyzing billing data reported by hospitals, have determined that doctors who perform a diagnostic test called a cardiac catheterization typically find blockage requiring treatment with a stent about 30 percent of the time.

But [Del. Peter A. Hammen] and other sources say the regulatory data suggests Midei performed stent procedures nearly twice as often, and that other Maryland doctors are high enough above the 30 percent benchmark to warrant a closer look.

UNNEEDED HEART STENT SURGERY LAWYERS

The heart stent attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to review potential claims for individuals who received a permanent stent implant by Dr. Midei that may not have been necessary. We are also continuing to monitor the state investigation and what other cardiologists may have also implanted unneeded stents.

To review a potential claim for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.