Suit claims woman died after Schaumburg cardiologist misplaced her pacemaker

A northwest suburban cardiology center and one of its doctors are being sued for allegedly placing a pacemaker in the wrong ventricle of a woman’s heart, leading to her death.

Ellen Katona died in February 2014 from the residual effects of two strokes she suffered after a pacemaker surgery at the Chicago Cardiology Institute in Schaumburg, according to the lawsuit filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court.

Katona, of Elk Grove Village, underwent the surgery on July 22, 2013, to help fix her irregular heartbeat, according to the suit.

The suit said Dr. Mark Metzl placed the pacemaker in the wrong ventricle of her heart. The day after the surgery, Katona had two strokes “as a result of the misplaced pacemaker,” the suit claims.

It was determined the strokes were caused by the surgery and that parts of the device were misplaced in her chest, the suit said.

Katona was treated until Aug. 13, 2013, at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village but died the following February because of the “severe physical and mental disability” caused by the strokes, the suit said.

The suit charges Metzl with failing to perform proper ultrasounds to ensure the device was placed correctly. It also claims the doctor did not get Katona’s complete history and physical to diagnose her condition and find the right way to install the pacemaker.

Neither the cardiology institute nor Metzl could be reached for comment on Friday.

The suit claims wrongful death among its four counts. Lydy Holovaty, who is representing Katona’s estate, is asking for at least $200,000 in damages.