$1.65 Million Mediation Settlement Reached in Late Diagnosis and Treatment of Bowel Perforations

In a confidential report of this case, Doe, age 55, underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by a surgeon and partner. During the procedure, the surgeon was concerned that one of the trocars used could have perforated the patient’s small bowel. A trocar is a medical device used in surgery and placed through the abdomen during laparoscopic surgery.

The surgeon told his associates, including his partner, that if the patient developed complications after her discharge, the diagnosis of a perforated small bowel should be considered.

The patient later called the surgical group advising them that she was experiencing persistent vomiting and severe pain. The surgeon advised her to go to the emergency room. There the patient reported severe abdominal pain. Testing revealed an elevated white count, and a CT scan showed extensive free air and fluid in her naval area. At the hospital, a radiologist diagnosed a possible perforation related to the recent surgery, a small bowel obstruction and an abdominal abscess.

The patient was later prescribed antibiotics and admitted to the hospital.

The surgeon’s partner reviewed the CT scan and allegedly diagnosed the post-operative ileus. An ileus is a painful obstruction of the ileum, which is another part of the intestine.

The patient continued to experience increasing abdominal pain and distension over the following week. She developed a fever and swelling in her abdomen and extremities. Eight days after the laparoscopy, the patient began leaking purulent fluid from her wound site. As a result, the surgeons then performed an exploratory laparotomy, which revealed two bowel perforations.

The patient required three subsequent bowel repair surgeries. She was required to use an ostomy bag for months. She lost more than 30 pounds and required special nutrition and placement of multiple PICC lines, one of which became infected and led to septic shock.

This patient now suffers from short gut syndrome and is no longer a candidate for bowel surgery. She requires medication for her condition, which causes her to suffer a variety of side effects.

Doe sued the surgeons alleging that they chose not to timely diagnose and treat her bowel perforations. Defendants argued that the patient suffered from extensive pre-existing bowel issues and would have undergone additional procedures regardless of any alleged medical malpractice.

The parties in this confidential report of this case settled for $1.65 million at a mediation.

The attorneys successfully representing this patient were William B. Kilduff, Christopher Spinelli and W. Randolph Robins Jr.

In preparation of the mediation, the plaintiff’s experts were a general surgeon, a radiologist, an infectious disease physician and a gastroenterologist.

The defendants presented experts in general surgery, radiology and gastroenterology.

This case was reported as confidential.

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling physician negligence cases, surgical negligence lawsuits, birth trauma injury cases and brain damage lawsuits for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Arlington Heights, Berwyn, Brookfield, Bellwood, Deerfield, Evanston, Evergreen Park, Lincolnshire, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Oak Park, Chicago (Pulaski Park, Garfield Ridge, Edgewater, East Garfield Park, DePaul University Area, Wrigleyville, West Town, Kenwood, Jefferson Park, South Shore), St. Charles, Round Lake and Barrington, Ill.