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| Disposition:
(Settlement/Arbitration/Trial) |
Settlement |
Date: |
4/20/1991 |
Type of Case: |
Medical Malpractice |
Allegation(s): |
Brain Injury from Elevated Potassium Level |
Result: |
$400,000 (present value) |
Case Name: |
Allen v. The University of California, San Diego |
Facts: |
On May 8, 1988, 43-year-old Gary Allen, an executive chef, was involved in a motorcycle accident in Palm Desert. He was thrown from his motorcycle and into a picket fence at a speed of between 40-60 mph. The plaintiff sustained multiple injuries which included a 16-17 centimeter laceration in the substernal area that caused his rectus muscles to protrude.
On June 22, 1988, the plaintiff was taken to an operating room at the UCSD Medical Center for exploratory abdominal surgery in connection with the injuries he sustained in the motorcycle accident. Prior to the surgery, the plaintiff underwent laboratory studies which revealed that he had a potassium level of 5.3, which is at the high end of normal or abnormally high. During the surgery, the plaintiff was administered succinylcholine as part of his anesthesia. Within a few minutes, the plaintiff's cardiac rhythm level became abnormal and he sustained cardiac arrest.
It took approximately 30 minutes of pulmonary resuscitation before a normal heart rate was established. Laboratory studies following the surgery showed a potassium level of 7.3, which is consistent with hyperkalemia (elevated potassium).
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| Injury/Injuries: |
Permanent brain injuries causing short-term memory loss.
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| Contentions: |
Plaintiff contended the administration of succinylcholine was negligent as it is known to cause significant increases in potassium levels and hyperkalemic arrest in patients with severe trauma and intra-abdominal infections.
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| Special Notes: |
The plaintiff settled for $400,000 (present value) with a guaranteed payout of $475,000. The potential future payout is expected to be $980,200.
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