Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery expert witnesses
Listed cardiothoracic surgery expert witnesses address coronary, valve and thoracic operations, patient selection and the management of post-operative complication. The instruction should identify whether the criticism is of the decision to operate, the operation itself or the recovery.
01
The evidence
What a cardiothoracic surgery expert witness is asked to determine
Cardiothoracic evidence draws on pre-operative assessment, risk scoring, the operation note, bypass and cross-clamp times, and the critical care record that follows. Because operative risk is quantified in this specialty more than most, the consent discussion is frequently central to the claim.
- Whether the decision to operate reflected the risk and the alternatives documented.
- Whether the consent discussion recorded the material risks of the procedure performed.
- Whether the technique, conduct and duration of the operation met the expected standard.
- Whether post-operative bleeding, tamponade or infection was recognised and managed.
- What can properly be attributed to the operation rather than to the underlying disease.
Practitioners are listed across all four UK nations. Location can be narrowed in the register’s location listings before an instruction is made.
Claim contexts
Claims that instruct this discipline
These links describe the question cardiothoracic surgery evidence can answer. They do not prescribe the scope of an individual instruction.
Clinical negligence claims
Patient selection, operative technique and post-operative care in cardiac surgery.
View claim type → 02Inquests
Cardiothoracic evidence where the circumstances of a death are examined.
View claim type → 03Personal injury claims
Cardiac and thoracic injury and its continuing consequences.
View claim type →Search the register by the discipline used in the instruction.
See cardiothoracic surgery listingsReport routes
Reports prepared
Operation notes, perfusion records and critical care charts support a records review report. A breach and causation report then addresses the outcome alleged.
Anaesthetic and intensive care evidence is commonly instructed alongside a cardiothoracic opinion. The report pages state what each route requires.
Cardiothoracic surgery expert witness evidence
A cardiothoracic surgeon expert witness works from the operation note and the recorded times, and distinguishes operative risk from operative failing.
The listing records discipline and coverage; availability is settled with the practitioner. See the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery alongside the case material.
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