Grieving over Complications Associated with Neuro-Endovascular Treatment

Neuro-endovascular therapy is regarded as one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine because of its effectiveness and low-invasiveness in the treatment of difficult neurovascular diseases. On the other side of the coin however, occasionally complications may occur which not only have a profound neurological effect, but also have a severe effect on the vital prognosis. The nightmare of a neuro-endovascular therapist is a catastrophe resulting from a preventive treatment for an asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patient with a potentially dangerous disease. Therefore, grave psychic distress tends to occur on both sides of the patient-doctor relationship. Once severe complications occur, we have simultaneously to take care of not only the psychic trauma of a patient and/or family but also our own psychic trauma. If treatment is not appropriate, we might invite malpractice suits or end up in occupational burnout.

In order to study the adaptive mechanisms that allow our continued survival in this new specialty of medicine, we administered a questionnaire survey to members of the Japanese Society of Neuro-endovascular Treatment. 51% of 300 respondents stated that they had been the targets of severe recriminations by patients and/or families as a result of complications. 284 respondents had multiple (2.5 on average) signs and symptoms of psychic trauma. Also 23% of respondents were unable to continue the clinical practice of neuro-endovascular therapy or resorted to conservative treatment. Only 7% of respondents had medical curriculum or residency program training on the psychological problems of complications. There is no systematic approach to education regarding physician grief in clinical practice. Many respondents tend to focus their attention solely on the details of failed interventional procedures and repeatedly “undo” actions and relive past events. However, the study showed that intellectualization of the tragic experiences without accepting and working through grief only adds to the physician's grief. The correlation was evaluated between the respondents' initial response to grieving and their change of attitude regarding their ability or willingness to performing the procedure after they had experienced devastating complications. It may be said that by facing the emotional truths of responsibility and grief, physicians can develop the ability to empathize with patients and their families. Mention is also made of the patient-doctor relationship, medical education, and the relationship with fellow physicians and medical lawsuits.