This case involves a 75-year-old male patient who had two back surgeries for degenerative disease and was sent to a rehabilitation hospital. Given his immobility, the patient was placed on deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis and given a subcutaneous anticoagulant injection. When his rehabilitation progress plateaued, the decision was made to send him to a nursing facility. On the day of transfer, the anticoagulant was discontinued and never restarted. Subsequently, at the nursing home, the patient fell and was found to have very low blood pressure. The medical director was notified and gave the patient fluids, but no further workup was done. Not long after, the patient went into cardiac arrest and was found to have bilateral pulmonary embolisms. He survived but sustained optical infarcts which caused the patient to go blind. An expert internist or physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with experience in rehabilitation facilities was sought to speak to policies of DVT prophylaxis as well as proper evaluation of hemodynamic collapse.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. Do you routinely treat patients undergoing rehab post-back surgery?
2. Are you familiar with the standard of care when it comes to DVT prophylaxis and/or assessment of hemodynamic collapse?
Expert Witness Response E-069713
I am familiar with the standard of care for DVT prophylaxis in non-mobile patients. I have taken care of many patients after back surgery having been an inpatient position of a rehabilitation hospital for 30 years. Skilled nursing facility care is a lower level of care than acute rehabilitation. Because of this, the patient was likely to have less therapy and less ability to move and walk. Decreased movement and decreased walking in a patient matching this description will increase the probability of developing deep vein thrombosis. If the patient did not have any contraindications to continuing subcutaneous heparin, he should have been continued on DVT prophylaxis either with subcutaneous heparin, Lovenox, or at the very least, 81 mg of aspirin. I would like to know what the patient's specific vital signs were at the time of the fall. If his blood pressure was severely low and if he had tachycardia, that would have indicated possible pulmonary embolus. At the very least, the patient should have had an EKG and consultation with internal medicine regarding orthostasis or whether he had experienced any type of central neurologic problem causing the fall.
About the author
Wendy Ketner, M.D.
Dr. Wendy Ketner is a distinguished medical professional with a comprehensive background in surgery and medical research. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Expert Institute, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's most important client relationships. Dr. Ketner's extensive surgical training was completed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she gained hands-on experience in various general surgery procedures, including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, appendectomies, mastectomies for breast cancer, breast reconstruction, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, and colorectal surgery. She also provided care in the surgical intensive care unit.
Her research interests have focused on post-mastectomy reconstruction and the surgical treatment of gastric cancer, including co-authoring a textbook chapter on the subject. Additionally, she has contributed to research on the percutaneous delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction.
Dr. Ketner's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from Yale University in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Moreover, she is a member of the Board of Advisors for Opollo Technologies, a fintech healthcare AI company, contributing her medical expertise to enhance healthcare technology solutions. Her role at Expert Institute involves leveraging her medical knowledge to provide insights into legal cases, underscoring her unique blend of medical and legal acumen.
