Higher Risk of Blood Clots for Cancer Outpatients

According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center, cancer patients that that have been treated with chemotherapy usually develop blood clots following hospital discharge, and not while still admitted.

The study, which examined almost 18,000 cancer patients over about four years, revealed that outpatients made up 78 percent of the 5.6 percent that developed blood clots. When a blood clot, or venous thromboembolism (VTE), occurs, red blood cells, clotting proteins and platelets form a mass, preventing blood flow.

Roughly one in five cancer patients develops a blood clot following their diagnosis, and the report points out that once a cancer patient develops a blood clot, it is more likely that they will develop others. Cancer outpatients need to be at the center of blood clot prevention efforts, as they are more likely to develop a clot than those patients still admitted to the hospital.

Many cancer patients need to be educated on the importance of blood clot prevention, as well as on preventive treatment they can receive if they are at risk of a clot. If a cancer patient has symptoms of a clot, such as swelling of the limbs or shortness of breath, they should contact their physician immediately.

If a blood clot goes undiagnosed, it can cause serious complications or death. If you or a loved one was hurt by doctor or hospital negligence, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys have helped clients with Bronx medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Manhattan medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases.

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Survey: ER visits result in infection for some elderly patients

A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has found that elderly adults in long-term care facilities that were recently treated in a hospital emergency room are three times more likely to develop a gastrointestinal or respiratory infection than those not recently seen in an ER.

For the study, researchers looked at about 1,270 seniors who lived in 22 long-term care facilities located in four Canadian cities between September 2006 and May 2008. The study focused on emergency room visits in the fall, winter and spring months, since respiratory and gastrointestinal infection rates are higher at these times than in the summer.

During the nearly two year study, about 425 of the seniors included in the study were treated at a hospital emergency room for something other than a gastrointestinal or acute respiratory problem. The rest of the seniors in the study were not seen at an ER.

The research found that those who were seen at a hospital emergency room were roughly three times as likely to develop a gastrointestinal or acute respiratory infection in the week after their visit.

In some cases, infections are not preventable and do not occur as a result of hospital negligence. However, some infections can be avoided and it is the responsibility of the hospital to prevent their patients from developing such infections.

If you or a loved one has acquired a serious infection while in a hospital and have questions about the quality of the medical care received, please call Silberstein, Awad & Miklos' hospital malpractice lawyers for answers. We have helped clients with Queens hospital malpractice, Bronx hospital malpractice, Brooklyn hospital malpractice, Manhattan hospital malpractice and Long Island hospital malpractice matters.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM