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A 25-year-old went in for outpatient knee procedure in a Weston surgical center. By the end of the day, he’d suffered severe brain damage. He died 80 days later.
A Florida Department of Health administrative complaint says the surgery’s anesthesiologist, Dr. Sergio Pinto-Torres, fell short of the standard of care.
“[Pinto-Torres] fell below the minimum standard of care in his treatment of Patient LV by not maintaining his blood pressure within normal limits throughout his surgery on Feb. 13, 2020,” the complaint said, “and/or failing to maintain a secure airway to ensure proper oxygen saturation to the body.”
Online state insurance records say Pinto-Torres’ medical liability insurance paid $250,000 in this case.
Administrative complaints start the process that ends at the state Board of Medicine with either exoneration or punitive action.
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Online license information from the Florida Department of Health show Pinto-Torres has a clean discipline record since acquiring his Florida license in October 1990. He’s been board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology since 1995.
Pinto-Torres did not respond to a phone call or email from the Miami Herald.
In for knee surgery, out with brain damage
What follows comes from the administrative complaint.
Patient LV was 25 years old on Feb. 13, 2020, when he went to Weston Outpatient Surgical Center for a complete repair of his left knee’s anterior cruciate ligament.
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“Throughout the course of the surgery, [Pinto-Torres] placed Patient LV” in a “prolonged state” of lowered blood pressure, the complaint said, dropping the patient’s blood pressure between 70/30 and 80/40. This, the complaint said, creates risk for heart attack, various kinds of strokes, organ damage, blindness and other health issues.
Post-surgery, “Patient LV did not awaken from surgery for several hours and was transferred to Cleveland Clinic with a laryngeal mask airway (which keeps the airway open during anesthesia) in place,” the complaint said. “Upon arrival at Cleveland Clinic, Patient LV had oxygen saturation in the 80s and was immediately intubated.”
Radiology studies at Cleveland Clinic showed “Patient LV had suffered a diffuse hypoxic ischemic injury to the brain.”
“Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a dangerous condition that happens when your brain doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen,” the Cleveland Clinic said. “It’s common among newborns who experience a difficult birth. It can be fatal or cause permanent brain damage in severe cases.”
Patient LV died on May 3, 2020.
Miami Herald
Since 1989, David J. Neal’s domain at the Miami Herald has expanded to include writing about Panthers (NHL and FIU), Dolphins, old school animation, food safety, fraud, naughty lawyers, bad doctors and all manner of breaking news. He drinks coladas whole. He does not work Indianapolis 500 Race Day.