Bowel Obstruction and Medical Malpractice - Dealing with Trauma

Bowel obstruction

The bowel is a hollow coiled tube. An obstruction in the small bowel (the small intestine) is a functional (paralytic) or mechanical blockage of the intestinal tract. This blockage prevents the normalcy in transit of digestive substances.

Due to its severity and need for immediate treatment, the bowel obstruction is considered to be an emergency when it occurs. This condition calls for close monitoring of the patient, for signs of clinical deterioration, as the slightest act of negligence can be life threatening.

Symptoms of Bowel Obstruction

Some of the obvious symptoms that occur during or before a mechanical small bowel obstruction include:

· Fullness in the abdomen

· Excessive gas

· Abdominal distention

· Pain and cramps in the stomach (mainly mid-abdomen)

Another syndrome of acute functional small bowel dilatation is called a paralytic obstruction. Symptoms include the same as those for a mechanical small bowel obstruction, along with vomiting after eating.

Other common symptoms of a bowel dysfunction include:

· Nausea

· Fever

· Diarrhea

· Constipation

· Rectal bleeding

· Weight loss and fatigue

· Adhesions

· Flatulence

· Hernias

When you or your loved one seeks medical attention for symptoms matching the above, it is most critical for the medical practitioners to diagnose the problem accurately. Upon failure to diagnose a bowel obstruction, the patient may lose his life, which could have been avoided in the event of proper diagnosis and timely treatment. The victim or his surviving family may be entitled to file a case of medical malpractice by failure to diagnose a bowel obstruction, and seek compensation for their loss, pain and suffering.

Perforations from malpractice

Perforation may be a result of blunt trauma, or an injury or damage caused by wounds, accidents and sutures. Obstructions and inflammations when left untreated expand the intestinal walls, causing them to break. These ruptures are life threatening as they let human waste enter the blood from the digestive tract, resulting in infection or sepsis. Medical malpractice that leads to blockage or perforation may involve:

· Improper emergency care

· Misdiagnosis

· Leaving infections untreated

· Leaving wounds and sutures open

· Poorly done post-surgical sutures

· Botched surgery

· Poor equipment

· Mix up in patient results

· Failure to replace feeding tube

· Improper administration of trauma medication

Liability for bowel damage

Our New York City bowel obstruction and medical malpractice attorneys are well aware of the causes and consequences of failure to diagnose a bowel obstruction. Our attorneys can support you in every way to help you seek compensation for your pain and suffering, or loss of a loved one due to such medical negligence.

Speak to our attorneys for legal support if you or someone you know has suffered due to improper diagnosis of a bowel obstruction in New York. Remember, our New York City bowel obstruction and medical malpractice attorneys will NEVER charge a legal fee unless we are successful in winning your case. Call 212-344-1000.