£15,000 compensation for surgery on Popliteal Aneurysm which caused significant pain

A MAN has received £15,000 in compensation after undergoing substandard surgery to repair a popliteal aneurysm at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

A popliteal aneurysm is a swelling or bulging of the blood vessel behind the knee. It occurs when the artery in that area becomes weakened and expands, often due to pressure or damage.

Our client sought legal advice after complications from his surgery left him in significant pain. The surgery to repair his popliteal aneurysm was performed incorrectly, resulting in a vein graft being tunnelled through muscle instead of the intended area.

Although tunnelling a vein graft through muscle is a known risk, the surgeon failed to test the circulation in Michael’s leg after the procedure or at the time of his discharge from the hospital. As a result, the vein graft was improperly placed, cutting off blood flow to his foot whenever he bent his knee.

Four months later, he was experiencing significant complications, including the loss of circulation in his leg. This led to a second, corrective surgery. Thankfully, the vein graft could be saved, but the delay and improper placement caused him unnecessary pain, suffering and anxiety.

After reviewing his medical records and consulting with an expert vascular surgeon, our specialist solicitors confirmed that the delay in identifying the mistake was a breach of duty. Had the pulses in his leg been tested post-surgery, the error would have been discovered and corrected immediately – avoiding the need for a second surgery.

Having sent a formal letter of claim to the NHS Trust, they entered into negotiations but did not admit liability and a settlement of £15,000 was eventually reached.

Have you been affected by medical negligence?

If you or a loved one has suffered in a similar way, our specialist solicitors are here to help – get in touch to discuss your case in confidence.

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