A family member had a laparoscopy and some adhesions removed in day surgery. At home there was increased pain, discomfort, and shortness of breath. The GP gave pain relief but it worsened still so 9 days post surgery they returned to the Gp who sent her to hospital. They found peritonitis (a perforation of the colon from the laparoscopy) which can be potentially fatal. Luckily it was not but it led to major emergency surgery, a 10 inch wound, a catheter in hospital, a nasal tube, a drain, oxygen, and 13 mights in hospital. She also has a (hopefully temptorary depending on recovery) ileostomy (stoma) for 3-6 months. She is now at home but has an infection in the wound (awaiting results from hospital swab). Is the initial surgeon negligable, ot the GP post lapaoscopy? The emergency surgeon said it was defintitely a result of the laparoscopy and demanded an apology. It has been a very traumatic time for all and has resulted in a big loss of confidence and long recovery period.
2007-04-26 01:46:12 · 3 answers · asked by Nic 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
The emergency surgeon is the hero in all this - not sure about how negligable the GP is not spotting it earlier and the initial surgeon for perforating the colon.
2007-04-26 02:32:25 · update #1
As you describe it, it sounds like you have a legitimate case.
2007-04-26 01:51:15 · answer #1 · answered by kathy_is_a_nurse 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adhesion's I assume from previous surgery? Did they by chance do a previous surgery? I think much depends on the reason for the adhesion's? The Patient had a problem to start with Adhesion's and the Doctors operated/laparoscopy for the adhesion's, when they might have missed the original perforation? Does that make sense? Perhaps the 'adhesion's' was not adhesion's but a perforation that they missed. As to taking legal action, I am not one for that as Doctors do the best for the Patient and are only human, so will always make mistakes.
2007-04-26 16:23:09 · answer #2 · answered by gillianprowe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're going to sue...sue them all and let the court decide who is responsible. If it was at a teaching hospital...good luck. Did you try to blame the emergency surgeon? He's the hero here you know. Infection is a possibility in any wound and can have any number of contributing factors. It could even be "your" fault (the infection) very hard to tell but I definitely would blame the er surgeon for that. Good Luck
2007-04-26 08:57:43 · answer #3 · answered by doc_up72 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋