Diverticulitis and Ruptured Bowel
If diverticulitis is left untreated, it can cause the bowel to split or 'rupture'. This is very dangerous as the contents of the bowel will spill out into the abdominal cavity, causing widespread infection.
If you or your family member has suffered serious complications because diverticulitis was not diagnosed and treated, there could be a case of medical negligence. To find out more, simply contact us at Glynns Solicitors. We are located between Bristol and Bath, but act for victims of medical error across England and Wales.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis affects people who have diverticulosis or diverticular disease. All three conditions are related but have slight differences. To understand the condition, we have explained diverticulosis, diverticular disease and diverticulitis in greater detail below.
What is diverticulosis?
Diverticulosis is when small bulges, called 'diverticula', develop in the lining of the large intestine.
It is a problem commonly associated with ageing, as the bowel weakens and becomes damaged when hard stools pass through the colon. Diverticula can also appear in younger people, although it is not always known why. Potential reasons include a history of constipation, not eating enough fibre and obesity.
Having diverticula will not necessarily cause any symptoms. If someone has diverticula but is completely asymptomatic (meaning without symptoms), they are said to have diverticulosis.
What is diverticular disease?
But if the diverticula are causing symptoms, the patient is said to have diverticular disease. These symptoms generally include intermittent stomach pain, constipation or diarrhoea, and bloating.
What is diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis is another step on, as it is when the diverticula become infected. Again, it is not specifically known why this happens, but it is thought that food or faeces becomes stuck in one of the pockets. Bacteria in the food or faeces then begin to reproduce, starting an infection. The body will respond by attempting to fight the infection, a side effect of which is inflammation.
Symptoms of diverticulitis
The symptoms of diverticulitis are:
- Severe, constant abdominal pain
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Feeling unwell
Diagnosing diverticulitis
The process of diagnosing diverticulitis will depend largely upon whether or not the patient is known to have diverticulosis/diverticular disease.
If the patient is known to have diverticula in their colon, a diagnosis can usually be made based upon the symptoms alone. A blood test will confirm that an infection is present, as there will be an elevated white blood cell count.
But if the patient has never received a diagnosis of diverticulosis/diverticular disease, it will be slightly more complicated for medical practitioners. Indeed, diverticulitis can mimic other conditions, including appendicitis and gastroenteritis. Further tests will be needed to verify the exact diagnosis. Blood tests will confirm that an infection is present, and an ultrasound scan/CT scan can reveal bulges in the bowel.
Treating diverticulitis
Some cases of diverticulitis can be treated at home with antibiotics. The patient may feel unwell for around four days, but afterwards will make a complete recovery.
However, some patients will become severely unwell with diverticulitis. The pain can be unbearable and it may be impossible to keep fluids/the antibiotics down. If so, the patient must be admitted to hospital and given intravenous fluids and antibiotics.
A small number of patients will require surgical treatment to remove the infected part of the bowel. This is no longer recommended as a matter of course, as surgery carries a number of risks that should be avoided if possible.
However, surgery may be needed if the patient has had diverticular disease from a young age, or is suffering from diverticulitis complications.
Diverticulitis complications
Complications of diverticulitis that will require surgical treatment include:
- Perforation of the bowel – where the bowel splits
- Abscess – where a pus-filled lump develops on the colon
- Fistula – where an opening develops between the colon and the bladder or abdomen
- Intestinal obstruction – where excessive scar tissue causes a blockage in the colon
Diverticulitis and perforated bowel
A perforated bowel is also known as a ruptured bowel. It is when the bowel bursts or splits. This can happen to patients with diverticulitis because their bowel wall becomes so weak that a hole develops.
A ruptured bowel is very dangerous because the infection that is inside the colon will spread into the abdominal cavity. The contents of the bowel – including faeces – will also spill outwards. Consequently the lining of the abdomen will also become infected, a problem which is called peritonitis.
A perforated bowel with peritonitis is a potentially fatal condition. It will trigger a septic inflammatory response, where clotting and inflammation occurs. Within a short space of time the patient's blood pressure will drop to a critical level and the organs will begin to shut down.
Treating a ruptured bowel
A ruptured bowel must be diagnosed and treated as a medical emergency. Surgery is needed to drain the pus and repair the perforation. Part of the damaged bowel may have to be removed. It is likely that a patient will then be fitted with a temporary colostomy, which is when faeces is diverted through a hole into the abdomen and collects in a bag. This will give the bowel time to heal, although another operation will be required at a later date to reverse the procedure.
A patient with a ruptured bowel will be seriously unwell and will probably need further treatment in the Intensive Care Unit to support their vital organs.
Ruptured bowel from undiagnosed diverticulitis
Potentially fatal complications such as a ruptured bowel can be avoided, as long as diverticulitis is diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. If a patient seeks help for their symptoms, investigations should be carried out as a matter of urgency. Once diagnosed, no time should be wasted in administering antibiotics.
If medical care falls short of this standard, causing a patient to suffer a ruptured bowel, there could be a case of medical negligence. This is because the bowel would not have perforated with better medical care, meaning the patient would have been saved considerable pain and suffering.
Want to know more?
If you want to know more about claiming compensation for a burst bowel, please get in touch with our team at Glynns Solicitors.
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