MEDIA – The widow of a Clifton Heights man says her late husband died during a cataract removal surgery, because the attending physician and anesthesiologist ignored his extensive history of diagnosed medical issues and administered too much anesthesia to him, eventually leading to his death.
Karen Fleet (as Administratrix of the Estate of Brandon Fleet, deceased) of Clifton Heights filed suit in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on July 7 versus 2BD Anesthesia, P.C. of Bala Cynwyd, Crozer Keystone Surgery Center at Haverford, Crozer Health Surgery Center at Haverford and Crozer Health Haverford Surgery Center, all of Haverford, Crozer Health of Springfield, Delaware County Memorial Hospital and DCMH, Inc. of Drexel Hill, plus Prospect DCMH, LLC and Prospect Crozer, LLC, both of Los Angeles, Calif.
According to the suit, the decedent had a history of retinopathy, Type I diabetes, high blood pressure and end stage renal disease.
“On the morning of July 7, 2021, Brandon Fleet presented to the Surgery Center for an elective cataract extraction with lens implant in his right eye, to be performed by Dr. Kelly Krespan, with Dr. William Goldstein serving as the Surgery Center’s anesthesiologist. After his arrival at the Surgery Center at approximately 7 a.m., Brandon Fleet’s blood pressure was recorded as 223/128, which is a dangerously elevated blood pressure. At approximately 7:50 a.m., Brandon Fleet’s blood pressure was recorded as 225/127 which is a dangerously elevated blood pressure,” the suit says.
“Despite Brandon Fleet’s severe hypertension on the morning of July 7, 2021, Dr. Goldstein and Dr. Krespan elected to move forward with the cataract extraction. At approximately 7:50 a.m., Dr. Goldstein medicated Brandon Fleet with labetalol. The cataract procedure commenced at approximately 8 a.m., at which time Brandon Fleet’s blood pressure was 223/128. At or near the commencement of the procedure, Brandon Fleet was administered fentanyl and midazolam. At or near the commencement of the procedure, Brandon Fleet was administered a local anesthetic of proparacaine and lidocaine. During the procedure at or around 8:30 a.m., Brandon Fleet was administered additional midazolam.”
The suit adds that During the procedure, Brandon Fleet reported that he wanted to sit up and had difficulty breathing at which time his oxygen levels were reportedly in the ‘mid-90s’. According to the suit, after Brandon Fleet’s report of breathing difficulties, Dr. Goldstein and/or Dr. Krespan decided to proceed with laryngeal mask airway (LMA) sedation at or around 8:45 a.m., at which time Brandon Fleet was administered propofol and additional midazolam.
Upon attempted conversion from MAC sedation to LMA sedation, Dr. Goldstein and/or Dr. Krespan had difficulty obtaining Brandon Fleet’s airway and further noted irregularities with his heartbeat.
“At or around the time that LMA sedation was attempted, Brandon Fleet lost his pulse and blood pressure. A code was eventually commenced at 8:54 a.m., at which time Brandon Fleet’s heart was in asystole. At or around 8:56 a.m., Brandon Fleet was intubated. The code continued until the paramedics arrived at 9:15 a.m., at which time Brandon Fleet was pulseless. At or about 9:25 a.m., the paramedics departed the Surgery Center for transport of Brandon Fleet to Bryn Mawr Hospital at which time Brandon Fleet remained pulseless,” the suit states.
“During the paramedic transport to Bryn Mawr Hospital, Brandon Fleet regained his pulse and blood pressure. Brandon Fleet arrived at the Bryn Mawr Hospital emergency room at or around 9:45 a.m. At Bryn Mawr Hospital, Brandon Fleet was diagnosed with a hypoxic/ischemic brain injury with the absence of brainstem reflexes and was pronounced dead on July 9, 2021. As a result of defendants’ negligence on July 7, 2021, Brandon Fleet suffered injuries, including pain, suffering, embarrassment, humiliation, mental suffering and death.”
For counts of negligence, corporate negligence, survival and wrongful death, the plaintiff is seeking, individually, jointly and severally, damages in excess of the applicable arbitration limits.
The plaintiff is represented by Seth D. Wilson of Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C., in Conshohocken.
The defendants have not yet obtained legal counsel.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas case CV-2023-005809
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com