Ruptured Intestine Symptoms
If the small or large intestine ruptures, faeces, food and waste products will leak into the abdominal cavity. This will quickly result in a number of symptoms that should immediately alert medical professionals to the problem.
Symptoms of a ruptured intestine
There are various reasons the intestine might rupture. Most commonly the intestine will be punctured during a traumatic accident (e.g. a car crash) or accidentally cut during surgery. It is also common for chronic conditions to weaken the bowel to such an extent that a hole forms. This can include illnesses such as diverticulitis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Whatever the underlying cause is, the symptoms of a ruptured intestine will remain the same. Initially, these symptoms will include:-
- A bloated abdomen;
- Constipation;
- Nausea;
- Sudden pain in the abdomen.
Within a very short space of time faeces and waste products will leak into the abdominal cavity, allowing the spread of bacteria. This will lead to further symptoms such as:-
- Vomiting;
- Diarrhoea;
- Fever;
- Tender and severely painful abdomen;
- Difficulty breathing;
- Increased heart rate.
If left untreated, the spread of bacteria will soon cause the lining of the abdomen – called the peritoneum – to become infected. This is known as peritonitis and can quickly make a patient critically ill.
Recognising the symptoms of a ruptured intestine
If a patient is displaying the symptoms described above and has a recent history of trauma, has recently has abdominal surgery or has a chronic bowel condition, doctors should immediately suspect a ruptured intestine. If not, they should appreciate that a patient has a serious abdominal infection and take steps to figure out the underlying cause. This can be achieved with a CT scan or an MRI scan which will show the presence of escaped air in the abdominal cavity.
Unfortunately, however, medical professionals do not always make a timely diagnosis. This will lead to a delay in treatment, the consequences of which can be devastating. A patient will rapidly become increasingly unwell with peritonitis and, if a patient is frail, this can ultimately be fatal. Nevertheless, doctors should diagnose a ruptured intestine soon after a patient arrives at hospital, as the symptoms should set alarm bells ringing, prompting urgent investigations. A failure to do so will be considered unacceptable.
Anyone who is injured because of an unacceptable standard of medical care will be eligible to pursue a compensation claim for the pain and damage this has caused. If this has happened to you or your loved one, please do not hesitate to speak to a solicitor about making a medical negligence claim.
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