Claiming For A Ruptured Bowel
If your bowel is ruptured during surgery, doctors should diagnose the problem and carry out a repair before the end of the operation. If there is a failure to do so and you suffer as a consequence, there could be grounds for a compensation claim.
Ruptured Bowel As A Result Of Surgical Negligence
Like all surgical procedures, abdominal surgery carries a number of risks, about which a patient should be informed in advance of signing a consent form. One such complication is a ruptured bowel, and is something that will occasionally occur during an operation that involves an incision to the abdominal area – for example, a hernia removal, caesarean section or hysterectomy.
If a patient's bowel is ruptured (sometimes known as perforated) during a surgical procedure, it will not necessarily amount to medical negligence. Indeed, a ruptured bowel is an accepted risk of many forms of surgery, and even if a surgeon displays exceptional skill it is not always possible to avoid a perforation.
However, should the bowel be accidentally punctured or nicked by a surgeon, it is vital the surgeon and his/her team recognise the damage before the end of the operation. In fact, the perforation should be sutured at the earliest available opportunity to prevent any blood or faecal matter leaking into the abdominal cavity. Once a repair has been completed, a surgeon can proceed to finish the operation, stitching the incision to the abdomen.
Effects Of A Ruptured Bowel
Nevertheless, there are sadly times when doctors perforate a bowel during the course of an operation but fail to notice any damage has been done. Consequently a patient will be left with an undiagnosed ruptured bowel, allowing blood, faeces and other waste products to spread into their abdominal cavity.
This will soon lead to a number of serious health complications. Firstly, a patient will develop a fever and begin to vomit. These are the first signs that something is amiss and doctors should be quick to investigate the problem. If a ruptured bowel is not diagnosed, an infection will begin to spread across the patient's abdomen, something which is known as 'peritonitis'. Their condition will quickly deteriorate, at which point it is of the utmost importance that a correct diagnosis is made. If a repair is not carried out in time, a patient's life could be put at risk.
Have you suffered from a ruptured bowel?
If this has happened to you or a loved one, you must seek the opinion of a legal professional. This is because in failing to recognise and repair a ruptured bowel, doctors will have caused you additional pain and suffering and may even have put your life at risk. You will therefore be entitled to financial redress for the injuries you have been caused as a result of medical error. To find out more about making a claim, contact a medical negligence solicitor today.
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Early legal assistance can be vital so please contact us if you would like to discuss your situation. Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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