Peritonitis From A Burst Bowel
If you have suffered peritonitis because of a burst bowel, are you able to claim compensation for the complications you endured?
Burst bowel and peritonitis
A burst bowel (or perforated bowel) is when a hole develops in the intestine. This can occur in a number of different ways, such as:-
- A puncture wound made during surgery
- Inflammatory bowel conditions, including Crohn's disease, diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis
- A traumatic accident
If the bowel does burst, the contents of the intestine – including faeces and waste products – will spill into the abdominal cavity. The bacteria within the faeces will subsequently infect the lining of the abdominal cavity, which is called the peritoneum. This will result in a serious bacterial infection known as peritonitis.
Peritonitis will make a patient feel extremely unwell. There will be vomiting, nausea and severe pain the abdominal area, along with a fever, high temperature and low blood pressure. Often patients will get a brief period where their symptoms improve, which is due to an outpouring of fluid from the peritoneal cavity. This tends to dilute the noxious material that has been released by the perforation leading to an improvement in symptoms and physical signs. Nevertheless, medical professionals should understand the natural evolution of peritonitis and it should not delay a diagnosis.
Claiming compensation for peritonitis
If not treated in time, peritonitis can be life-threatening. If the infection gets into the bloodstream, it can result in septic shock, organ failure and even death. It is therefore vital that medical practitioners diagnose peritonitis, and moreover, recognise that the underlying cause is a burst bowel. If there is a failure to diagnose the problem in a timely fashion, there may be grounds for a medical negligence compensation claim.
If you or your loved one has suffered complications because medical professionals failed to diagnose and treat a burst bowel, you need to speak to a solicitor without delay. If there has been a substandard level of medical care and this caused unnecessary pain and suffering, you will be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation.
Medical negligence solicitors
Medical negligence claims must be made within three years of the event, so it is important not to delay in seeking expert legal advice. If you miss the three year limitation date, you will not be able to make a claim, even if you have a very strong case.
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