Was Your Venous Ablation Surgery Really Necessary?

Venous ablation, or endovenous ablation, is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure that is most commonly used to treat varicose veins or spider veins to reduce associated pain and swelling, leg fatigue, Restless Leg Syndrome, irritation, or even leg ulcers. The procedure uses radiofrequency or lasers to cauterize and close varicose veins. This prevents blood from flowing into that vein and pooling, causing problems such as bulging veins, swelling and pain, and preventing more severe problems from occurring, such as blood clots. 

For some patients, venous ablation restores their quality of life, eliminating pain, allowing them to become more active, and reducing their risk of blood clots. For others, the treatment amounts to nothing more than a cosmetic procedure, which may be precisely why they chose to have it done. Problems arise when patients are told that they need to have venous ablation done for medical reasons when there really is no medical need to do so or when mistakes are made during the procedure. When either of these situations occurs, it is natural to suspect medical negligence.

Risks of Venous Ablation

Although venous ablation is considered low-risk, no surgical procedure is 100% risk-free. The most common risks associated with the procedure are:

• Infection, bruising or bleeding at the point of skin penetration.
• Damage to the blood vessel due to the catheter.
• Post-op bruising and tenderness.
• Nerve damage due to the thermal treatment.
• Vein swelling (thrombophlebitis).
• Blood clots.

When Does Venous Ablation Indicate Possible Medical Malpractice?

Just because a treatment didn’t go as expected or you weren’t happy with the results doesn’t mean medical malpractice or negligence occurred. Varicose veins are tricky to treat. They don’t usually cause any long-term damage if left alone, and since we have veins all over our body, it’s possible for new ones to pop up even after venous ablation treatment. We most often see medical malpractice in regards to venous ablation when:

• Blood vessels have been damaged during the procedure.
• Patients are talked into medically unnecessary ablation procedures.
• Nearby nerves were damaged in the procedure.
• Lingering pain, scarring, or a need for follow-up ablation.
• Missed diagnosis or inaccurate diagnosis.

In order for a surgeon to be charged with medical malpractice, his or her actions must be compared to their peers. Medical malpractice attorneys ask the question, “What would any other vascular surgeon have done in this situation?” If the surgeon in question acted in accordance with established best practices and/or the patient did not suffer any actual harm (i.e., the patient was just displeased with their results), chances are there isn’t a good case for medical malpractice. 

However, if the surgeon made questionable decisions or recommendations or acted in a way that was not generally accepted as best practices and the patient suffered actual harm, medical malpractice and/or negligence may be at play. 

Suspect Venous Ablation Medical Malpractice? Call The Beregovich Law Firm

The best way to determine if you have a venous ablation medical malpractice case is to consult a qualified medical malpractice attorney for a thorough case review. If you are questioning whether you really needed a venous ablation procedure, are experiencing complications post-procedure, or have not obtained the relief you were told to expect, it’s time to contact The Beregovich Law Firm for a free case consultation. We will review your situation, examine your medical records, and the surgeon’s reasons for suggesting the procedure as well as the care received before, during, and after the procedure to look for evidence of malpractice. 
Schedule your free consultation at our offices in Orlando or Miami, Florida, so you can receive an objective review of your case before taking action. Call (800) 631-9009 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.