What Is A Bowel Perforation?
First, we want to talk about bowel perforation is as well as some of the causes. Your gastrointestinal tract is a closed system, starting at your mouth and running through your bowels. If there is a perforation in this closed system, serious medical emergencies can occur due to the following that can enter the body through a perforation:
- Bacteria
- Stomach acid
- Bile
- Partially digested food
- Feces
If this happens, your body can develop a full body infection, commonly known as sepsis. The CDC says that around one in three patients who die in the hospital have sepsis at the time of death.
There are many natural causes of bowel perforation. There are also times with doctors and surgeons unintentionally cause these perforations. Whether the cause of a ruptured bowel or a perforation is natural or man-made, healthcare professionals need to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms so they know something is wrong. These can include:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Fast heartbeat
- Passing less urine, stool, or gas
If a doctor fails to notice these symptoms and subsequently does not use X-rays, CT scans, or blood work to rule out a perforation, they are being negligent in their duties. Failing to properly diagnose and repair bowel perforations or ruptures in a timely manner can lead to major complications including the need to remove part of a patient’s intestines. This could lead to a person needing a colostomy bag to drain the contents of their bowels from their bodies.
Failing to diagnose and treat bowel perforations can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life.
What If It Happens To You?
As you can see, this is a serious medical condition that needs to be addressed. If you or a loved one have suffered from a gastrointestinal perforation due to the negligence of a healthcare professional, please seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Brown, Moore & Associates, PLLC, we want you to know that we will work diligently to secure compensation for all of your injury-related expenses. This can include:
- Compensation for all medical expenses related to the mistake
- Coverage of lost wages if you cannot work
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
- Pain and suffering damages
- Punitive damages against the people responsible
If you need a ruptured bowel attorney in Charlotte, please contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 800-948-0577.
