Delayed Diagnosis of Ogilvie's Syndrome
A delay in the diagnosis of Ogilvie's Syndrome can be life-threatening and may be justification for a claim for compensation.
The threat of Ogilvie's Syndrome
When identified promptly, Ogilvie's Syndrome can usually be managed without recourse to surgery and the patient is likely to make a good recovery.
A delay in diagnosis, however, may put the patient at risk of bowel perforation, tissue death, peritonitis and sepsis.
What is Ogilvie's Syndrome?
Ogilvie's Syndrome is a condition which causes distension or swelling of the colon without any obvious causative obstruction such as a tumour. It can, nonetheless, allow a fistula to develop between the bowel and the abdominal space through which faecal matter can escape and cause severe, potentially lethal infection.
Without thorough investigation, the true nature of the problem and the associated risk of bowel perforation may not be recognised.
However, a prompt CT scan can identify the distention of the colon and initiate appropriate treatment.
Ogilvie's Syndrome is most likely to develop in patients who are already in hospital and have undergone major abdominal or heart surgery or are suffering from a pre-existing condition such as heart disease or kidney failure.
In some cases, however, the underlying cause is never clear.
Symptoms of Ogilvie's Syndrome
Signs that a patient has Ogilvie's Syndrome may include the following:
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Pain in the abdomen
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tenderness of the abdomen
When these symptoms develop in a patient who has recently undergone surgery or who is being treated for a pre-existing condition, the possibility of Ogilvie's Syndrome needs to be considered and a CT scan should be carried out to clarify or rule out possible causes.
Deterioration of the patient
If the patient also begins to exhibit symptoms such as a high temperature and fast heartbeat, it may be an indication that the bowel has already perforated and the situation then becomes a medical emergency.
The patient is likely to require immediate intravenous antibiotics and may well need to be cared for in a high dependency unit if infection sets in and threatens the patient with sepsis.
Medical negligence
The sinister possibilities of Ogilvie's Syndrome can be avoided when an early diagnosis is achieved.
A failure to consider the possibility of the condition as an explanation of the patient's symptoms may well be considered to have been a substandard level of care.
If you or a loved one are suffering with the long-term impact of a delay in diagnosing Ogilvie's Syndrome, you may wish to consider making a claim for compensation to assist with the physical, financial and psychological problems you may be encountering.
Ring us to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor who will be happy to advise you.
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