One of the most dangerous – and preventable – medical errors that occur is a nicked or cut bowel injury. When surgery or other type of procedure is performed, the medical professional can inadvertently cut the lining of the bowel, which leads to the perforation. This type of error can lead to some horrific side effects. If it’s discovered the surgeon made a mistake and cut your bowel or another intestine, you should seek the advice of a Charlotte, NC bowel injury lawyer. The legal team at Ted A. Greve & Associates has successfully represented many victims who have suffered very serious medical issues after an intestine was perforated.
Risk Of A Bowel Injury Error
Surgeries where a bowel has a higher chance of occurring include colonoscopy, surgery to remove a polyp and/or mass in the bowel, and, in some cases, a hysterectomy. However, in any procedure where a surgeon is using a scalpel on your internal organs, a perforation can occur.
If the bowel is injured, even the smallest of openings can allow food, stool, and other substances to leak into the stomach, causing peritonitis (i.e., inflammation of the abdomen).
Complications and consequences of a nicked or cut bowel include:
- Serious infection: The most common complication occurs when bacteria from inside the intestine leak into the abdomen, often causing widespread infection. Sepsis, a full-body infection, can spread extremely quickly.
- Subsequent re-perforation: A damaged colon could re-tear days, months, or years after the original perforation. This time, it may take the patient longer to realize what has happened.
- Intestinal blockage: A blocked intestine can be extremely painful, expensive to fix, and life-threatening.
- Colostomy: A cut or perforated colon might necessitate the removal of a long segment of intestine in order to save the patient. In some cases, this intestine must be replaced by a bag that collects waste that is attached to the patient for life.
- Death: If an infection spreads quickly, a patient may go into shock, and his or her organs may shut down.
Accessing The Risks
Before you undergo surgery, it is critical to be prepared, both before and after the procedure. Ask the surgeon how many procedures they’ve performed in the past. If you don’t feel comfortable with the answer, always remember you can request the services of another surgeon. After the surgery, be on the lookout for the side effects that indicate any issues. The moment you notice these problems, contact your doctor or surgeon immediately in order to get it checked out. If you have been a victim of a medical error, call a Charlotte bowel injury lawyer right away.
Contact Ted A. Greve & Associates
If you have suffered a bowel injury due to the negligence of a medical professional, call Ted A. Greve & Associates to find out what legal recourse you may have for the losses the injury has caused you. You may be entitled to medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and more.
Contact our office for a free and confidential consultation with a Charlotte bowel injury lawyer, and let us help you obtain the financial justice you deserve.
