Unnecessary surgery for a rectal tear

Unnecessary surgery for a rectal tear. During a routine laparoscopic hysterectomy our client’s obstetrical gynecologist inadvertently burned a small area in her rectum, which developed a leak a few days later. At the emergency department she was seen by the OB-GYN on call. Rather than admitting her for observation, and consultation by a colo-rectal surgeon, the doctor decided to perform emergency surgery removing part of the rectum, suturing the ends together and creating an ileostomy to divert the contents of her intestine to a bag.

An infection began due to the leakage of fecal material, and the surrounding abdominal tissue became necrotic, resulting in a large open wound in her abdomen. Over the next three years our client needed several surgeries, by a colorectal surgeon and other specialists and had to give up her job as a nurse for the VA.

Our expert said the surgery was done too quickly, as the tear might have healed by itself with antibiotic treatment and it was done improperly, with sub-optimal placement of the ileostomy.