Pericardiocentisis Injures Patient’s Heart

Our client had a diagnostic heart procedure done called pericardiocentesis.  Subsequently, our client was found to have a tear in her heart and emergency cardiac surgery was performed to repear the tear.  We filed a case on behalf of our client.  During the case, we discovered that the doctor performed the pericardiocentesis at bedside without using any x-ray for visualization during the procedure.  As a result, the doctor blindly placed a needle into the heart and damaged the heart.  We argued that the doctor should have performed the procedure in the operating room using fluoroscopy to visualize real-time the placement of the needle into the heart.  The hospital agreed to pay money to our client to make up for her injuries.