Perforated Bowel Claim Attorney

Have you suffered a perforated bowel as a result of improper medical care? Are you struggling to keep up with unforeseen expenses, reduced household income, and the physical and emotional consequences of a painful injury? If so, you should know that you may be able to demand compensation for these and other losses through a medical malpractice claim based on bowel perforation negligence.

At Serious Injury Law Group, we can protect your rights and demand fair compensation for your injuries. We’re Alabama natives who pride ourselves on helping our neighbors when they need us most. Get in touch with us for a free consultation with a medical malpractice attorney in Birmingham who will be with you every step of the way.

What Is a Perforated Bowel and How Does it Happen?

A perforation is a hole that develops due to the piercing or wearing away of an organ’s outer membrane. The “bowel” is another term for the intestines, which are long, tubular organs that absorb nutrients from digested food and convert them into waste. Therefore, a perforated bowel is a hole that develops in the wall of the bowel or gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Many different health issues and types of trauma can contribute to a perforated bowel, including:

• Diverticulitis – Inflammation of small pouches that line the digestive tract
• Ulcerative colitis – A disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the GI tract
• Crohn’s disease – A chronic disease that causes inflammation in the GI tract
• Toxic megacolon – Life-threatening inflammation and distention of the colon
• Strangulated hernia – A hernia that cuts off blood flow to the digestive tract
• Peptic ulcer disease – A disease that causes open sores in the intestines
• Appendicitis – The inflammation of the appendix, which is attached to the colon
• Certain cancers – These include colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, or stomach cancer
• Forceful vomiting – Vomiting so frequent or forceful that it perforates organs
• Bowel impaction – Excess buildup of solid waste that gets stuck in the colon
• Poor blood flow – Insufficient blood flow to the intestines due to blocked arteries
• Blunt-force trauma – Injuries from crashes, gunshot wounds, and other trauma
• Hazardous ingestion – Ingestion of foreign objects or corrosive substances
• Surgical issues – Complications that arise during abdominal or bowel surgeries

Possible Health Complications from a Perforated Bowel

A perforated bowel is a serious health issue that requires prompt medical attention. A hole that develops in the intestines can allow food, digestive fluids, or solid waste to seep out and fill the abdominal cavity. If a perforated bowel is left untreated, patients can suffer the following types of health complications:

• Internal bleeding – Bleeding within the body that can lead to swelling and infections due to the accumulation of excess blood
• Peritonitis – Inflammation of the peritoneum, which is the tissue that lines the inside of the abdomen and covers the internal organs
• Sepsis – An overreaction of the immune system to an infection that results in damage to the body’s own tissues
• Hypoperfusion – Lack of sufficient blood flow to an organ
• Shock – A life-threatening condition due to lack of blood flow
• Multiple organ failure – The failure of two or more bodily organs or systems
• Bowel obstruction – A blockage that prevents food or liquids from passing through the intestines properly
• Fistulas – Abnormal connections between body parts or organs that do not normally connect with one another
• Hernias – Protrusions of internal organs or body parts through walls of muscle or tissue that normally hold the parts in place

Diagnosing and Treating a Perforated Bowel

To determine whether you have a perforated bowel, your doctor might rely on one or several of the following diagnostic tests:

• Blood tests to look for signs of infection or the failure of your liver or kidneys
• Colonoscopies, which allow doctors to view the inside of the large intestine
• X-rays, which can show signs of air in the abdominal cavity or internal tears
• CT scans, which provide detailed images that show the precise location of tears
• Upper endoscopies, which allow doctors to view the inside of the small intestine

Depending on the location and severity of the bowel perforation, you might need the following types of treatment to recover from a perforated bowel:

• Endoscopic surgeries – Minimally-invasive surgeries in which doctors use small cameras to guide thin instruments around the intestines
• Laparoscopic surgeries – Similar surgeries in which doctors use small cameras to see and perform surgery on the inside of the abdomen
• Traditional surgeries – Surgeries involving large incisions in the abdomen that allow surgeons to work on perforated bowels manually
• Colostomies – The diversion of a piece of the colon to an artificial opening in the abdomen so that waste bypasses the large intestines
• Ileostomies – The diversion of a piece of the small intestine to an artificial opening in the abdomen so that waste bypasses most of the intestines

Liability in Perforated Bowel Malpractice Cases

A bowel can become perforated for many reasons, including medical malpractice. Medical practice is medical care that does not meet professional standards. To obtain compensation for your bowel perforation through a medical malpractice claim, you must prove that a medical provider did not meet these standards and is, therefore, liable for your injury.

Proving that the medical care you received did not meet these standards can be difficult due to the complicated and specialized nature of the modern medical industry. Your attorney will need to work with medical professionals and other experts who can provide compelling testimony in support of your perforated bowel claim.

Compensation in Medical Negligence Perforated Bowel Cases

With a successful medical malpractice claim, you could recover compensation for the following losses:

• Hospital bills and other medical expenses you would not have otherwise incurred
• Out-of-pocket expenses, such as additional travel costs from going to and from extra doctor’s appointments
• Lost wages from time you miss at work
• Projected losses in your future earning capacity, if the perforated bowel contributes to a long-term impairment
• Pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life

Contact the Medical Malpractice Attorneys of Serious Injury Law Group

Want to learn more about how you can pursue compensation for a perforated bowel you suffered as the result of medical malpractice? Then, contact Serious Injury Law Group for a free consultation with a bowel perforation malpractice lawyer in Birmingham.