Plastic Surgery leads to detached retina, with additional complications

[leeannen]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

I had multiple procedures - rhinoplasty, brow lift, a little throat lipo, and at the last minute I took the PS suggestion and added lower bleph. I received great info on all the possible risks except the lower bleph. The doctor did not meet with me again after I added this, never told me about the chance of retinal detachment, did not discuss my risk factors - such as being very near sighted and severe facial swelling due to allergic reactions.

My eyes swelled severely for well over a week - I slept sitting up, used ice packs, finally got the PS to give me a opthamolgic eye gel - finally it occurred to me to try benedryl, and over the course of a couple of days the swelling came down.

After I healed my eyes were always bothering me - my vision would blur and just bother me. I stopped by the optometrist, I had seen right before surgery - office staff told me it was just the slight cataract I had. Two months later, I got the tell tale curtain in my vision and was taken into emergency surgery - laser, gas bubble and sclera buckle. 3 weeks face down 45 minutes of each day.

There is some literature that indicates the retinal detachment could have been caused by the extenisve trauma and swelling.

4 1/2 months and $5,000 later - my eye is still very problematic - my pupil is permanently dilated, my cataract worsened due to the gas bubble treatment, and my vision is not correctable with glasses (due to the sever difference in vision of my other eye).

I would not have had the original PS surgery, if I had known about my risk factors retinal detachment - the doctor, who I had used before, took it for granted that he knew I would heal well as I have done before...and didn't take the time to ask about my risk factors...

Do I have a case to minimally pursue reimbursement for the medical expenses resulting from my retinal detachment? and perhaps more as my vision isn't improving and I am probably going to have serious difficulties for life.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
LWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[lealea1005]

Originally Posted by leeannen

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

I had multiple procedures - rhinoplasty, brow lift, a little throat lipo, and at the last minute I took the PS suggestion and added lower bleph. I received great info on all the possible risks except the lower bleph. The doctor did not meet with me again after I added this, never told me about the chance of retinal detachment, did not discuss my risk factors - such as being very near sighted and severe facial swelling due to allergic reactions.

My eyes swelled severely for well over a week - I slept sitting up, used ice packs, finally got the PS to give me a opthamolgic eye gel - finally it occurred to me to try benedryl, and over the course of a couple of days the swelling came down.

After I healed my eyes were always bothering me - my vision would blur and just bother me. I stopped by the optometrist, I had seen right before surgery - office staff told me it was just the slight cataract I had. Two months later, I got the tell tale curtain in my vision and was taken into emergency surgery - laser, gas bubble and sclera buckle. 3 weeks face down 45 minutes of each day.

There is some literature that indicates the retinal detachment could have been caused by the extenisve trauma and swelling.

4 1/2 months and $5,000 later - my eye is still very problematic - my pupil is permanently dilated, my cataract worsened due to the gas bubble treatment, and my vision is not correctable with glasses (due to the sever difference in vision of my other eye).

I would not have had the original PS surgery, if I had known about my risk factors retinal detachment - the doctor, who I had used before, took it for granted that he knew I would heal well as I have done before...and didn't take the time to ask about my risk factors...

Do I have a case to minimally pursue reimbursement for the medical expenses resulting from my retinal detachment? and perhaps more as my vision isn't improving and I am probably going to have serious difficulties for life.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
LWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

I highly doubt the possibility of allergic reaction was not convered in your informed consent.

Did your Surgeon know about, or advise the use of Benadryl? An antihistimine may have been contra-indicated for your post op condition, or with the other medication he prescribed.

[lya]

I'm not finding any sources that relate a detached retina to lower bleph surgery.

Trauma that may lead to retinal detachment or retinal tear is such as would happen if the eye received a direct blow from a fist or a tennis ball or sufferred a penetrating eye injury. Trauma from lower eyelid surgery is not equal to the trauma required to detach or tear the retina.

The patient has a longterm history of near-sightedness, which carries a high risks of leading to retinal detachment.

I seriously doubt one would be able to prove that the swelling from the lower bleph caused the retinal tear/detachment rather than did the near-sightedness.

Benadryl increases intraoccular pressure. It is quite possible the patient caused the retinal detachment by taking Benadryl and increasing intraoccular pressure.

Many opthalmic gels and drops are contraindicated or advised to be used with caution in patients with increased intraoccular pressure as it may lead to retinal tear or detachment. Perhaps the eye gel contributed to the problem. Again, the patient prescribed this treatment; and, used it in conjunction with Benadryl.

I believe it would be most difficult, if not impossible, to attribute the damage to any act of negligence/medical malpractice.