Undiagnosed Perforated Bowel Compensation
A delay in recognising that a patient is suffering with a perforated or ruptured bowel can prove catastrophic and may justify a claim for compensation.
The impact of a perforated bowel
A perforated or ruptured bowel means that the lining of the bowel has torn. Because of its life-threatening potential, it is a medical emergency. Medical conditions which may cause the bowel to rupture need to be diagnosed promptly and accurately before this devastating development occurs.
A failure to investigate and diagnose abdominal pain accurately can allow this shocking emergency to develop and lead to a wide range of possible on-going physical and psychological difficulties.
- Long-term bowel problems can cause a variety of practical and emotional problems, including restricting access to a range of areas of employment
- It may result in the need for a colostomy procedure and a stoma to be fitted, providing bowel function for the patient on either a temporary or permanent basis
- The patient will have to undergo additional surgery, facing all the associated risks
- Intensive care support is likely to be necessary, possibly for an extended period of time if the patient develops sepsis or other complications
- Sepsis, a dysfunctional immune system reaction to infection can develop from abdominal infection
- Multiple organ failure as a result of sepsis
- The patient may die
Possible causes of a perforated bowel
A range of bowel disorders can lead to a perforation if they are not accurately diagnosed or if the appropriate treatment is not carried out in a timely manner. This could include the following conditions:
- Diverticulitis, a condition of the bowel where pouches in the lining of the bowel may become infected and inflamed, threatening the integrity of the bowel
- Crohn's disease where inflammation can cause a perforation or split in the wall of the bowel
- Undiagnosed appendicitis
- Ulcerative colitis, like crohn's disease it is an inflammatory bowel disorder which, if undiagnosed and untreated, can lead to a rupture or perforation of the bowel
An infection can develop as bacterial matter seeps from inside the bowel through the rupture and into the abdominal cavity.
Severe abdominal pain may have a number of causes and a failure to consider a diagnosis which ought to have been suggested by the patient's presenting symptoms may be regarded as substandard care.
Claiming compensation
If you or a loved one are suffering from the on-going impact of a perforated bowel due to poor-quality medical care, contact Glynns Solicitors, specialists in medical negligence compensation.
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