Bowel perforation

Failure to diagnose bowel perforation following abdominal surgery. Our client had laparoscopic surgery for gallstones. When she reported abdominal pain, constipation and other symptoms following the surgery, she was advised to take Maalox and sent home.

Her continued symptoms caused her to return to the hospital, but even after admission she was not offered a surgical consult, until after an abdominal CT scan which revealed a perforated intestine. She was then transferred to another hospital, where emergency surgery was performed. Because of the infection caused by the delay, she required a lengthy hospitalization, with several surgeries, intravenous antibiotics, and other rehabilitative measures. She was left with permanent disability, scarring, and disfigurement.

Our experts concluded that her symptoms required immediate radiological studies and a surgical consultation, which would have prevented the permanent harm that she suffered.