Postoperative Patient with Gastrointestinal Symptoms Dies of Cardiac Arrest; $1.5 M Settlement

A postoperative patient who experienced gastrointestinal signs and symptoms after undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery suffered cardiopulmonary arrest and died the next day. The patient's estate has settled with the cardiothoracic surgeon and the hospital in Pennsylvania state court for $1.5 million, according to an article in the November 2020 Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts.

The patient presented with severe chest pain to a hospital that was not a party to the lawsuit. He was diagnosed with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and three-vessel coronary artery disease. The defendant cardiothoracic surgeon performed three-vessel coronary artery...