Bowel Damage Caused by Surgical Errors

Gastrointestinal tract injuries, which entail the stomach, the esophagus, the small intestine, the colon, and the duodenum, can result in severe consequences, if not death.

Whether injuries in bowels are due to trauma resembling direct penetration of a wound, or from a mistake which occurred within surgery, the primary results to the intestine, and any diagnosis delay of the incident, can result in a wide array of complications that are life-threatening.

The small intestine and colon, stretched from one end to another, would measure in approximate length at 30 feet.

Perceptible to the injury, this can create a large surface area. Among the likely sources of injury to the bowels, are the following:

From a motor vehicle collision, gunshot, or knife, direct penetrating trauma.

When afflicted with violence or great force, bowel injuries usually have multiple areas, and organs that are adjacent, which are simultaneously injured.

CT scan, or careful investigation with appropriate x-ray, and straight forward visualization during exploratory laparotomy is crucial, so that the physician can treat and identify without delay all injuries.

Trauma of blunt force, such as when an individual strikes his or her abdomen in a head on collision against the handlebars of a bicycle, or the steering wheel of a vehicle.

Injuries in the bowel can result from blunt force, although there is no apparent external injury.

It is vital that blunt force victims endure the necessary work up of diagnosis, which includes a CT scan and X-ray, so that there is quick repair.

It is also important that studies of a diagnostic nature are interpreted appropriately, so that there is early detection in the bowel injuries.

Neglect on the part to identify a bowel injury of a radiologist on X-ray can interfere with decision-making of another doctor, and can result in treatment delay that is catastrophic.

Within the abdomen, surgery performed can carry some risk, of the surgeon being the inadvertent cause of bowel injury.

This occurs, at times, when the instrument during surgery cuts an intestine, while the physician works on structure that is adjacent.

At times, this happens when adhesions, or tension on scar tissue, results in a tear to the bowel wall.

Not every bowel injury that inadvertently occurs during surgery indicates negligence of the surgeon, although malpractice will likely be the end result due to some sustained injuries.

Surgeons, however, who operate within the abdomen must know that risk is involved to cause a bowel injury.

They are required, therefore, to inspect carefully the bowel prior to completing surgery, so that any dilemma can be rectified promptly.

Unnecessary danger can afflict a patient when there’s negligence involved.

A blockage in the intestines is referred to as bowel obstruction, which can prevent the contents within gastrointestinal passage.

This can cause scar tissue buildup from a tumor, or prior operation, among various causes.

Surgical emergency is required when there’s complete bowel obstruction.

Contact us for a free consultation or call Anzalone Law Firm PLLC, at: 603.548.3797