Negligent Bowel Perforation due to Missed Appendicitis
Appendicitis requires prompt and accurate diagnosis and treatment to avoid a rapid deterioration in the patient's condition and the risk of bowel perforation with its associated dangers.
Appendicitis symptoms
A patient suffering with appendicitis is likely to be exhibiting the following symptoms:
- Intense abdominal pain, moving to the right lower side
- A high temperature
- Nausea and loss of appetite
Appendicitis can develop when the patient's appendix becomes inflamed probably due to a build-up of infected matter which can cause the lining of the appendix to tear.
Responding to appendicitis
A patient with appendicitis usually requires prompt surgery in order to remove the appendix and prevent perforation of the bowel. This is most likely to take the form of keyhole surgery to minimise the need for a large incision and speed up the patient's recovery.
A failure to recognise the symptoms and respond appropriately risks the patient's appendix bursting.
Possible complications of appendicitis
When the appendix bursts or tears, the bacterial matter inside the appendix can leak into the interior of the abdomen where it would not normally be found. This can lead to tissue within the abdomen becoming infected. This process can, and frequently does, cause the patient to develop peritonitis, an infection of the lining (peritoneum) of the abdomen.
A further complication of this unpleasant scenario is the potential for the body's immune system not to cope with this unexpected development. Sepsis, where the immune system over-reacts to an infection, is a not uncommon development of peritonitis.
Unfortunately, without emergency treatment, sepsis will cause the body's organs to malfunction, threatening the life of the patient.
Both peritonitis and sepsis need urgent diagnosis if the patient is to have the best chance of survival. This situation could be avoided if the patient's appendicitis symptoms are correctly diagnosed and treated in the first place.
Patients who survive sepsis are, nevertheless, likely to suffer on-going symptoms which can include fatigue, breathlessness, poor kidney function and pain. This is described as post-sepsis syndrome and can have a significant impact on a person's life.
Medical negligence
A failure to recognise the potential severity of a patient's appendicitis symptoms and a failure to ensure urgent investigation is carried out, may be regarded as substandard medical care.
If the patient suffers significant, long-term symptoms as a result, the relevant medical practitioner may be considered to have been negligent and it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are struggling with the long-term impact of a failure to diagnose and treat appendicitis, contact Glynns today to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
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