Orlando Heart Catheterization Error Lawyers

Cardiac catheterization is one of the most commonly performed invasive heart procedures in the United States, used both to diagnose and treat serious cardiovascular conditions. When performed correctly by a skilled and attentive cardiologist, it can be life-saving. When errors occur, the results can be catastrophic — arterial rupture, stroke, heart attack, infection, or death. At Faiella & Gulden, P.A., we represent patients in Orlando and throughout Florida who have suffered serious injuries due to heart catheterization errors. If you were harmed during or after a cardiac catheterization procedure, our team is here to help. We offer free consultations, handle cases on a contingency fee basis — no fee unless we recover for you — and we get to work immediately when you hire us.

What Is Cardiac Catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization is a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel — typically in the groin, wrist, or arm — and guided to the heart. The procedure serves a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Diagnostically, it allows physicians to measure pressures in the heart chambers, assess blood flow, and visualize the coronary arteries through a dye injection (coronary angiography). Therapeutically, catheterization is used to perform procedures such as angioplasty (opening blocked arteries), stent placement, balloon valvuloplasty, and certain arrhythmia treatments.

Because the catheter enters directly into the arterial system and is guided to the heart, the procedure carries inherent risks. However, when physicians adhere to accepted standards of care — in patient selection, procedural technique, monitoring, and post-procedure care — these risks can be minimized. When they do not, patients are exposed to serious and preventable harm.

Common Heart Catheterization Errors

Heart catheterization errors can occur at any stage of the process — before, during, or after the procedure. Some of the most serious errors include:

– Arterial or venous perforation due to improper catheter placement or manipulation
– Coronary artery dissection caused by excessive force or improper technique
– Air embolism — introduction of air into the bloodstream — resulting in stroke or cardiac arrest
– Failure to recognize and respond to contrast dye reactions or anaphylaxis
– Improper stent placement, including stent misdeployment or failure to adequately dilate the artery
– Radiation overexposure from prolonged fluoroscopy
– Failure to adequately anticoagulate the patient during the procedure, resulting in clot formation
– Inadequate post-procedure monitoring, leading to unrecognized complications such as hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, or retroperitoneal bleeding
– Performing the procedure on a patient who was not an appropriate candidate
– Failure to obtain informed consent, leaving the patient unaware of the risks involved

Florida Law: Medical Malpractice and Cardiac Procedures

Florida’s medical malpractice framework under Chapter 766 of the Florida Statutes applies to negligent heart catheterization procedures just as it does to other forms of medical negligence. The plaintiff must demonstrate that the cardiologist, hospital, or other provider deviated from the accepted standard of care — that is, the level of skill and care that a reasonably competent cardiovascular specialist would exercise under the same or similar circumstances.

Florida Statute §766.102 requires that a claimant obtain an expert medical opinion confirming that the care provided fell below the standard and that this deviation caused the patient’s injuries. The pre-suit investigation process under §766.106 requires the claimant to serve notice of intent to initiate litigation on all potential defendants and allow a mandatory 90-day investigation before a lawsuit may be filed.

The statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Florida is generally two years from the date of discovery of the injury, subject to a four-year statute of repose under §95.11(4)(b). Because the pre-suit process adds significant time to the timeline before a case can be filed in court, patients who believe they have suffered a catheterization error must contact an attorney promptly.

What to Do If You Were Harmed During a Cardiac Catheterization

If you or a loved one suffered a serious complication during or after a cardiac catheterization and you believe the complication was caused by a provider error, the following steps can help protect your claim:

– Seek prompt evaluation from another cardiologist or cardiac surgeon who can assess the full extent of your injuries and provide independent medical insight.
– Request complete copies of your procedural records, including catheterization lab reports, fluoroscopy data, nursing notes, discharge summaries, and any imaging studies.
– Do not sign any releases or provide recorded statements to the hospital or its insurance company before consulting an attorney.
– Document your symptoms, complications, and the impact on your daily life from the time of the procedure forward.
– Contact an experienced Orlando heart catheterization error attorney as early as possible to allow adequate time for the pre-suit process.

How Faiella & Gulden, P.A. Can Help

The attorneys at Faiella & Gulden, P.A. have the medical and legal knowledge needed to handle complex cardiac malpractice cases. We work with cardiovascular specialists and cardiac surgeons who can provide the expert analysis required under Florida law, and we have the resources to conduct a thorough investigation of your case. Whether your injury resulted from a technical error during the procedure, inadequate patient monitoring, or improper post-procedure care, we will identify who was responsible and pursue full accountability.

We serve clients in Orlando and throughout Florida, including Orange County, Kissimmee, Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Clearwater, Daytona Beach, and communities across Central and Southwest Florida.

Avoiding Mistakes After a Heart Catheterization Error

If you suffered a serious complication during a cardiac catheterization that you believe was caused by a medical error, the steps you take in the aftermath matter. Certain common mistakes can significantly hurt your ability to recover the compensation you deserve.

Assuming Complications Are Normal

While some minor side effects — such as bruising at the insertion site — are expected, serious complications like severe bleeding, stroke symptoms, chest pain, or limb numbness are not. If you experience significant complications after a catheterization, seek independent medical evaluation immediately and do not assume the cardiologist or hospital will disclose if something went wrong.

Not Getting Your Records Right Away

Catheterization lab records, including the detailed procedural report and fluoroscopy imaging, are essential to evaluating whether an error occurred. These records should be requested as soon as possible, before details are amended or lost.

Talking to the Hospital’s Risk Management Department Without a Lawyer

Hospitals often have risk management teams that may contact you after a serious complication. Their role is to protect the hospital, not you. Do not give statements or accept proposed resolutions without first speaking with an attorney.

Waiting to Seek Legal Advice

Florida’s medical malpractice process includes a mandatory 90-day pre-suit investigation period that must be completed before a lawsuit can be filed. While this period tolls or pauses, the statute of limitations under Florida law, the pre-suit notice must still be served before the two-year window expires, and gathering the required expert support takes time. Delaying your call to an attorney can close the door on your claim entirely.

Choosing a Lawyer Without Medical Malpractice Trial Experience

Heart catheterization error cases are technically complex and require attorneys who understand both the medicine and the law. At Faiella & Gulden, P.A., medical malpractice is the core of our practice, and we have the experience and resources to take these cases all the way to trial if necessary.

Orlando Heart Catheterization Error — Client Story

This client story is for educational purposes only.

Robert was a 64-year-old retired teacher from the Orlando area who was scheduled for a routine diagnostic cardiac catheterization after his cardiologist detected an abnormality on a stress test. The procedure was performed at a local hospital, and Robert was told everything had gone well. But within hours of returning home, he developed severe pain in his groin and felt faint. His wife drove him back to the emergency room, where doctors discovered he had a large retroperitoneal hematoma — significant internal bleeding — that required emergency surgery to address.

Robert’s family contacted Faiella & Gulden, P.A. for a free consultation. The attorneys reviewed his catheterization records and worked with a cardiovascular expert who concluded that the hematoma was caused by an arterial access complication that was not properly identified and managed before Robert was discharged. The post-procedure monitoring protocol had not been followed adequately, and signs of bleeding that should have been detected were missed.

With a strong expert opinion and a detailed understanding of Robert’s harm, Faiella & Gulden, P.A. pursued his claim through Florida’s pre-suit process and ultimately secured a settlement that covered his emergency surgery, extended recovery, lost income from part-time consulting work he could no longer perform, and compensation for the pain and disruption to his retirement years. Robert was grateful to have had a team that understood what happened and refused to let it go unanswered.

Contact Faiella & Gulden, P.A. — Orlando Heart Catheterization Error Lawyers

If you or someone you love suffered serious harm during or after a cardiac catheterization procedure, do not assume the complication was unavoidable. At Faiella & Gulden, P.A., we will review your records, consult with cardiovascular experts, and give you an honest assessment of your case. We offer free consultations, charge no fees unless we win, and we are ready to begin working on your case right away. Call us today at (407) 470-1225 or use our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.