A male patient underwent a scheduled surgery to repair a hiatal hernia and was informed that the procedure was successful. However, he soon experienced extreme pain, nausea, and vomiting, and returned to the emergency room with signs of infection, including an elevated white blood cell count. Despite these concerning symptoms, the surgeon dismissed them for two days. Unbeknownst to the patient, the surgeon had inadvertently nicked his intestine during the surgery and failed to identify the injury before closing the abdomen.
The situation was further complicated by the surgeon’s failure to respond promptly to the patient’s symptoms upon his return to the hospital. When the surgeon finally acknowledged there was an issue, a substantial portion of the patient’s large intestine was found to be unsalvageable, requiring a bowel resection and colostomy. Several months later, the patient was able to undergo a colostomy reversal, but not before enduring months of pain, illness, severe weight loss, and the inability to participate in activities he enjoyed with his family.
Following a thorough investigation and litigation, our firm secured a significant settlement on the patient’s behalf.
Type of Medical Malpractice: Surgical Negligence and Delayed Recognition of Complications
Standard of Care Issues:
- Proper identification and management of intraoperative injuries
- Timely evaluation and response to postoperative symptoms
- Adequate monitoring and follow-up care in high-risk surgical cases