Delayed Surgery For Crohn's Disease Leads to Bowel Perforation
Although perforation of the bowel is a risk for someone suffering with crohn's disease, Richard's surgery was delayed until it was too late and he now has to live with the traumatic consequences.
Richard was diagnosed with crohn's disease at a young age but, despite frequent painful flare-ups, he was determined to live a normal life. His condition was monitored by a consultant gastroenterologist and controlled with a medication regime.
Following one particularly severe exacerbation of his symptoms, Richard underwent a surgical removal of part of his small intestine, before returning to his cocktail of medication.
Periods of extreme abdominal pain indicated the continuation of his condition, and scans and internal examinations provided on-going evidence of strictures (narrowing) in the intestines due to inflammation and thickening of the bowel wall. This eventually required Richard to undergo repeat balloon dilatation (reduction) of the strictures in the bowel in order to try to reduce his distressing symptoms.
Nonetheless, Richard continued to experience the pain typical of someone suffering from the effects of crohn's disease. Over time, further strictures were identified as developing in both his small and large intestine. It was eventually decided to begin Richard on biological therapy with intravenous drip of Infliximab, which is regularly used to treat active crohn's disease.
Having lived with crohn's disease for fifteen years, Richard was experiencing such extreme abdominal pain and vomiting one weekend that his father took him to A&E. It was assumed that he was suffering a flare-up of his crohn's disease and he underwent a CT scan which showed a long stricture in his colon and dilation of his small bowel. However, the attending medical practitioners decided that surgery was not necessary at that time.
Although the pain Richard was experiencing continued to increase throughout the following day, he was put under regular observation rather than undergoing surgery.
Richard was reviewed again the next day, by which time he was found to have a perforated bowel and was suffering from peritonitis, as bacteria had travelled from his bowel into his abdomen and peritoneum. Consequently, Richard then had to undergo emergency surgery to remove large areas of affected bowel and to create a stoma.
Unfortunately, Richard continued to deteriorate as a result of his bowel perforation, developing pneumonia and suffering from multiple organ failure. He was transferred to intensive care and had to remain in hospital for a month until he was considered well enough to be discharged.
Richard is now rebuilding his life but continues to suffer both the physical and psychological effects of his traumatic experience.
He contacted Glynns Solicitors to discuss the quality of his care. We sought medical advice and felt that, had Richard undergone surgery at an earlier point when extensive strictures had been identified, he would not have experienced the severe complications which then developed due to the delay.
Richard was awarded in excess of £120,000 in compensation.
(Details which might identify our client have been changed.)
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