SPBMCC Member Elizabeth Montesano Obtains $875,000 in Medical Malpractice Case
77-Year-Old Woman Sent Home Twice From Emergency Department Following Severe Post-Operative Medical Complications
The decedent underwent an elective hysterectomy in January 2019 because she had recently been diagnosed with Stage 1A endometrial cancer. The surgeon encountered dense adhesions on the left side of her abdomen when removing the uterus and both ovaries. These specimens were sent for pathological evaluation.
Following surgery, she was discharged and sent home. However, she returned to the hospital three days later due to worsening pain and developing new symptoms of fever, rectal bleeding, and vaginal bleeding. At the Emergency Department, a gynecologic oncology consultation was requested, as this was the medical service that had performed her recent surgery. The patient was seen only by a junior resident and no evaluation or testing was performed. The patient’s surgeon was neither contacted about the decedent’s complaints nor notified that she was hospitalized. She was discharged home with a diagnosis of constipation.
Three more days later, the decedent’s pain worsened further, and again she returned to the same hospital’s emergency department. The patient’s medical records documented complaints of pain at a level of 10 out of 10, fever, chills, vomiting, rectal bleeding, vaginal bleeding, and abdominal distention. The physical examination findings included a firm, tense, and rigid abdomen. These symptoms and physical exam findings are consistent with serious post-operative complications.
The same gynecologic oncology junior resident evaluated the decedent, and once again, the patient’s surgeon was not contacted, nor aware that the decedent was now presenting to the hospital for a second time. Despite all of these signs and symptoms of postoperative complications, worrisome for infection, and bowel perforation, the patient was again discharged home with a diagnosis of constipation.
The decedent presented the following day to her regularly scheduled post-operative follow-up visit with her surgeon. The doctor described her condition as the “worst pain ever.” The office note further states that she was lethargic, somnolent, and moaning in pain. That night she was admitted to the hospital where she underwent a CT Scan of the abdomen and pelvis that identified a large, over eight-centimeter fluid and gas collection on the left pelvic side wall compatible with a bowel perforation and abscess.
The decedent underwent extensive surgery to remove the infection, abscess, and feculent material from her abdomen. Unfortunately, the decedent’s condition remained severe and she was in septic shock. The decedent’s abdominal wound was left open following the operation to allow continued drainage. Unfortunately, her condition progressed to multi-organ failure and she died five days later.
Family Retains SPBMCC As Counsel
The family of the decedent retained SPBMCC after the loss of an active, and healthy woman who suffered severe medical conditions because doctors failed to diagnose post-operative complications following hysterectomy surgery promptly.
The firm retained medical experts in the fields of gynecology and surgery who opined that the decedent required a CT scan of the abdomen to rule out post-operative infection, abscess, and/or bowel perforation. The medical experts further explained that the decedent should have been admitted to the hospital at the first emergency department presentation. In addition, it became apparent that an abdominal X-ray that was performed during the second emergency presentation was misinterpreted as normal, when in fact it showed free air in the abdomen consistent with a bowel perforation.
Learn More About Firm Member Elizabeth Montesano
Elizabeth Montesano, a firm member, is a vigorous advocate for people injured due to medical malpractice. Her legal skills and experience have helped her clients achieve many multimillion-dollar settlements. Ms. Montesano handles all types of medical malpractice cases, including birth injuries, delays in cancer diagnosis, and surgical and cardiac cases. To learn more about firm Member Elizabeth Montesano, click here.