Doctors Fail to Diagnose Aneurysm in Peritoneal Dialysis Patient

This case involves a 59 year old woman with a who was experiencing kidney failure and undergoing peritoneal dialysis. She presented to the ER with complaints of flank pain and was initially placed on pain medication until a CT scan was ordered. Her complete blood count showed an decrease in red blood cells, but the doctors did not address the abnormality. Shortly thereafter the patient began to complain of nausea. A stat CT was ordered the following day due to her declining condition. The CT revealed a ruptured common iliac artery aneurysm.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Do you routinely treat patients like the one described in this case?

2. Have you lectured/published on the management of such patients?

3. Have you ever reviewed a similar case in the past?

Expert Witness Response E-042574

I am the Director of the Division of Hospital Medicine at my institution. I am also a hospitalist and have taken care of patients like this in the past.