Bowel Perforation during Surgery is Medical Malpractice that May have Fatal Consequences

Bowel obstructions happen when a tear or rupture in any gastrointestinal organ that results in a leak of its contents into the abdomen. Sometimes a bowel condition left undiagnosed may lead to organ perforation. In majority of cases, bowel perforation is found to commonly occur during surgery.

This is a result of the positioning of the large and small intestines in the abdomen or pelvic region, where a vast number of surgeries are performed.

A bowel perforation is a risk that accompanies many surgical procedures. It is part of the surgeon's responsibility to inform you about the risks and leave no room for mistakes or malpractice in the surgical technique. Procedures that commonly involve a high risk of bowel obstruction includes:

· Colonoscopy

· Pelvic lymphadenectomy

· Hysterectomy

· Gallbladder surgery

· Electrocautery

· Adhesiolysis

· Oophorectomy (ovary surgery)

A perforation in any gastrointestinal organ, whether at a small or large scale, is considered a medical emergency. It must be promptly detected and treated, failing, which the perforation can lead to life-threatening implications for the patient.

Toxic waste and leakages of the contents from the gallbladder or intestines, if mixed with the blood stream due to the perforation, causes acid to seep into the abdominal cavity and leads to a chain of aggressive reactions, sepsis, and infections. The acid leak may cause peritonitis, which is a condition of inflammation of the abdominal wall, which can progress towards failure of the organ, or even death.

Complications and Consequences

Perforation of the bowel can result in prolonged illnesses, critical complications and additional correction surgeries that may take a toll on the patient's physical and mental health and immunity. The immediate consequences may involve:

· Internal bleeding

· Organ damage

· Organ failure

· Sepsis

· Formation of abscesses in the stomach

· Ulceration of the walls lining gastrointestinal organs

· Wound infections

Risk Factors

Certain risk factors are known to increase the possibility of an organ perforation during surgery. They include:

· Malnutrition

· Obesity

· Type 2 Diabetes

· Uremia - a condition resulting from kidney failure

· Hematoma - formation of blood external to the blood vessels

· Sepsis

Signs and Symptoms of Bowel Perforation

A bowel perforation may exhibit various symptoms in the patient. Physicians must gauge these signs appropriately and immediately conduct the required tests to identify a possible perforation and perform a corrective procedure to reduce the damage.

Common symptoms include:

· Chills

· Nausea

· Fever

· Vomiting

· Severe abdominal pain

· Unexplained changes in bowel habits

Bowel Perforation by Medical Malpractice

Medical negligence while performing a surgery adds to the already existing unfortunate risk of a perforation. Some common ways in which negligence of the surgical staff can lead to bowel perforation are:

· Improper surgical technique

· Miscommunication among surgical team members about the procedure or a particular step in the procedure

· Improper use of surgical instruments

· Retained surgical instruments

· Inexperienced surgical team members performing the procedure

The Best Legal Assistance in the Industry

The New York City medical malpractice attorneys come with vast experience and expertise in this area of medical malpractice. Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff have law offices situated in Astoria, Queens, New York City and two offices in Brooklyn.

Contact them so that they can help you get the most appropriate compensation you deserve from negligent healthcare providers. Call 212-344-1000 to schedule a free consultation.

We are not paid until you are paid. We do not settle anything until we get your word. You will be kept informed about how your case is progressing. If you want to increase the chances of enlarging your bank account and having money for your needs, give us a call. We will be happy to discuss your case.