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COOK COUNTY RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Man sues for malpractice over improperly inserted catheters

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A man who was irreversibly injured after catheters were twice inserted incorrectly is suing two doctors, their practice and a local hospital.

Dennis L. Longo filed a complaint June 19 in Cook County Circuit Court against Franciscan Alliance Inc., doing business as St. James Hospital and Health Centers, doing business as St. James Health-Chicago Heights, Specialty Physicians of Illinois LLC, and Drs. Young Song and Anthony Grimaldi.

On June 19, 2013, Longo underwent a transurethral resection of the prostate, performed by Grimaldi. After the procedure, Longo complained of an inability to urinate, abdominal pain, scrotal swelling and pain, and bowel pain and distension, for which a Foley catheter was inserted.

According to the lawsuit, the catheter was not properly placed, it was draining poorly and the patient continued to retain urine. Finally, the lawsuit states, the catheter was removed at 1 a.m. June 20, with another placed an hour later, only this one also wasn't properly positioned, was draining poorly; the patient continued to retain urine.

That catheter was removed, too, the lawsuit states, only by 5:21 a.m. June 20, a urethral false passage had formed, allegedly creating "permanent and irreversible damage to Longo's urethra and sphincter muscle."

The defendants are cited with failing to properly insert the catheters on both occasions, and failing to remove the catheters in a time way before the false passage and occlusion had been created.

As a result, the lawsuit states, Longo suffered injuries, pain and suffering, loss of a normal life, and medical expenses.

The plaintiff seeks a jury trial and damages in excess of $50,000, plus costs.

The plaintiff is represented by Craig A. Hoffman of Ruberry, Stalmack and Garvey LLC in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L006296.

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