Perforated Appendix Due to Negligence
Stomach pain can indicate a host of possible causes such as crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and food-poisoning but it can also be caused by an inflamed appendix, and a failure to diagnose this can lead to a rapid and life-threatening deterioration.
What is appendicitis?
The appendix is a small tube of tissue attached to the large intestine which can become inflamed and painful. This is called appendicitis.
It is thought to be prompted by an obstruction in the appendix which causes it to swell.
When appendicitis is diagnosed, the appendix is usually surgically removed. This is a common and mostly successful procedure. Where a diagnosis is delayed, however, a swollen appendix may burst (a perforated appendix). This can cause extreme pain and lead to a life-threatening situation as the perforated appendix can release bacteria from the intestine into the cavity of the abdomen.
Diagnosing Appendicitis
Diagnosing appendicitis can be difficult as the underlying causes are not always clear but key symptoms are severe pain and possible stomach cramps in the abdomen that may focus in the region of the appendix, becoming worse when pressure is applied.
The sufferer may also feel nauseous, with a temperature and vomiting.
Due to the potential for serious conditions to develop from abdominal disorders, it would be advisable for a patient exhibiting these symptoms to undergo further investigations such as scans and blood, urine or stool samples.
A failure to refer or investigate, leading to severe complications, may prompt a claim for medical negligence.
Misdiagnosing the cause of severe stomach pain will cause a delay in an accurate diagnosis and may threaten the patient's life.
A perforated appendix
If diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the pressure on the appendix may become too great and the appendix may rupture, splitting open and allowing its contents to flow into the abdomen.
This may cause a sudden increase in pain and associated symptoms and the patient's condition may deteriorate rapidly.
The abdomen houses the digestive system and organs such as the stomach and intestines as well as the appendix and a perforation of any of these organs can lead to significant problems. If the waste matter within the digestive system is released into the abdomen, the bacteria it contains may reach and infect the peritoneum which lines the abdomen.
Responding to a perforated appendix
A patient whose appendix has burst will be in extreme pain. If they are also starting to suffer from an infection after the perforation, they will be developing a high temperature and experiencing other flu-like symptoms.
The patient is likely to need immediate intravenous antibiotics and surgery to remove the appendix.
A delay in initiating such a response due to negligence or a failure to recognise the problem, may allow the infection to develop and further complications to set in.
Life-threatening developments
Peritonitis can easily cause sepsis, an over-reaction by the immune system which can cause the body's life-support systems to start to close down as the patient suffers blood-poisoning and a reduction in oxygen reaching the vital organs.
Patients with sepsis are extremely unwell and require emergency treatment and life support if they are to survive.
Over 40,000 people die from sepsis in the UK each year and it is thought that over 10,000 of those could have survived if their underlying infection had been diagnosed in time. Those who survive can go on to suffer with life-limiting symptoms.
Contact a specialist solicitor
If you have suffered from the appalling complications of an undiagnosed perforated appendix, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation for the pain and suffering you have undergone.
Glynns Solicitors is a specialist medical negligence legal practice and would be happy to discuss your experience with you.
Call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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