HUNTINGTON – A Kanawha County woman accuses a plastic surgeon of medical negligence following complications from a 14-hour surgery.
Mikeal Withrow filed his complaint in Cabell Circuit Court against Dr. Adel A. Faltaous and University Physicians & Surgeons Inc. doing business as Marshall Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
According to the complaint, Withrow went to Faltaous for surgical procedures that included a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty, a medial thigh lift and multiple areas of liposuction. The 14-hour surgery took place on October 30, 2020. Withrow was admitted overnight to Cabell Huntington Hospital.
The following day, Withrow was found to be hypotensive and anemic, requiring transfer to the intensive care unit and given blood transfusions for stabilization. She was discharged on November 3, 2020.
Three days later, Withrow went to Charleston Area Medical Center with hypotension and signs of wound healing difficulties. On November 11, 2020, an angiogram was performed showing inadequate perfusion to the lower abdominal flap. Necrotic tissue and fat were found to be the cause of her surgical wound breakdowns, according to the complaint.
Withrow required numerous debridement surgeries, incision and drainage procedures and wound therapy. She also required hypobaric treatments and skin grafting, according to the complaint.
She accuses the defendants of medical negligence and violations of the West Virginia Medical Professional Liability Act. She says the deviation from the standard of care caused severe and permanent injuries, including skin loss, scarring, disfigurement, loss of mobility, emotional distress and depression.
Withrow seeks compensatory damages for past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, pre- and post-judgment interests, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.
She is being represented by H. Truman Chafin and Tish Chafin of The Chafin Law Firm in Williamson and by Amy C. Crossan of Bouchillon Crossan and Coburn in Huntington. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Alfred E. Ferguson.
Cabell Circuit Court case number 22-C-215
