chrisoco said:
Actually, the device is saturated with saline or sterile water (saline in my case) before being placed in the nasal cavity and inflated. The water's adhesive properties is what keeps the air in the balloon.
(Like I said earlier, my husband is a medic with 20 years field experience, including trauma background and teaching certs)
Chris,
I forgot to respond to this, the product directions very specifically state to saturate the device with STERILE WATER not saline water, salt inhibits the proper attributes of the gel but would not lead to overinflation.
Whether your husband has been an EMT for 20 years or 2 has no bearing on what happened. He could not stop your bleeding. The product funtioned as it should, is superior to older types that were more likely to cause damage and is even used in conjunction with skull base sugery.
You had a number of things that contributed to this happening and it is important to keep this from happening again, both more bleeding problems or the fracture. Basilar fractures are time bombs because they can reoccur with or without trauma. In my opinion, the closest thing to negligence from what you reported was knowing you had a skull fracture because to the positive CSF and not locating the fracture with appropriate diagnostic imaging and followup. I am not stating you don't have a problem, you are misattributing it's cause.
If you insist on sueing the ER physician for overinflating the balloon because you are confusing the size with the inflation criteria, it will never make it anywhere and they will counter with all the same things I have pointed out, these are things your attorney would have to research. Your case if any is going to hinge on who failed to follow up on the fracture.
Consult with an attorney but also with your physician to follow up on the fracture you need to do that for your own health
Ellen,
You said, "You have researched and explained this far greater than I would have. This poster, like a couple of others that come to mind, is convinced that her (and their) opinion of causation is absolutely correct and no defense will prevail over her (and their) opinion.
You have provided excellent responses and documentation; don't wear yourself out."
LOL! I know, I just hate to see someone waste their time following up on the wrong cause, 13 months later and at the same time most likely needing followup that should have been done 12 months ago, she has taged the wrong doctor for her problems.
