When Can A Ruptured Bowel Lead To A Medical Negligence Claim?
The main cause of a ruptured bowel is often an injury during a surgical procedure in hospital. Whilst undergoing the main surgery an accidental cut might be made in the bowel. If this is spotted early on in the procedure it can be repaired quickly and relatively successfully with a second operation. However, if it is not detected for a while you might suffer significant pain and potentially even some longer term complications.
This article will look at why you might experience a ruptured bowel and what action you can take it if it happens to you.
Classification Of A Ruptured Bowel
A ruptured bowel can relate to one of three areas; a hole in the stomach, a hole in the small intestine or a hole in the large intestine. A rupture can be caused by surgery close to an organ or in close proximity to one of these areas.
Another relatively common cause of a ruptured bowel can be accidents. A serious car accident might lead to a crushing injury which could also cause the bowel to rupture.
How Do You Know If Your Bowel Is Ruptured?
A scan is usually the only way to find out for certain whether a bowel has been ruptured. Usually an X-Ray or CT Scan will confirm the rupture and also reveal the severity of it.
The rupture can reveal its existence through symptoms such as sickness, a high temperature and extreme pain in the area of the rupture. The problems exist because the hole causes faeces and food to leak from the bowel into the surrounding areas. If this is not detected and repaired and the leaked substances removed from the abdomen a ruptured bowel can lead to fatality.
What Should You Do?
If you have suffered a ruptured bowel, either following surgery, or a surgeon has failed to diagnose it possibly following a car accident, you should consider investigating a medical negligence claim. Each case has to be determined on its merits, but most medical negligence solicitors will provide you with an initial assessment without cost, so you can find out quickly and easily whether you might be able to make a claim, how much compensation you might receive and also whether any further treatment is needed.
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