Calling all PPOT Doctors.....
 

Even those that stayed at a Holiday Inn last night.

I've worked with a lot of Doctors in my film career and worked a few seasons of ER and Chicago Hope, Grey's Anatomy so I have some medical knowledge. All the info I've gotten is from my BIL, haven't spoken directly with any of her Doctors.

My 66 y.o. Sister went in for a Colonoscopy yesterday morning. Apparently they perforated her bowel during the procedure and didn't notice until the insufflator was leaking air into her chest cavity causing breathing problems while under anesthesia (Tension Pneumothorax maybe?).

Anyway she's now in ICU, intubated and mildly sedated. My BIL is a nervous wreck, not getting many answers from her Docs. I told him they know they effed up and are trying to make sure she is completely stable on the last step before moving onto the next step.

The air has almost completely drained in the chest cavity helping to regain normal lung volume and function.

What is the procedure to repair a bowel tear? Cautery? Is there a medical version of Flex Seal that repairs leaks and tears? TIA if you have any input or have ever experienced this.

Med Mal

just saying.

Yeah, but that's on the back burner for now.

I know when I went in for a colonoscopy last year I had to sign a form that I knew there were risks and bowel perforations was one of them. Not sure if that completely absolves the malpractice angle.

I mean, if I take my car to get worked on I realize the mechanic can screw up. But if they wreck it on the test drive I expect to be compensated.

Thanks Matt!

I deleted the last post since it quoted someone who has since deleted their post. I appreciate the input, I've learned that if you want medical information, ask a Nurse!

Apparently the tear was small and leaning against another organ so the only thing that leaked was the air into the chest cavity. Hopefully sutures or staples will be the repair.

Thanks Stephanie!

Needle and thread or medical staple gun

Thing is, bowel is full of stuff that you really want to stay inside the bowel. I foresee heavy duty antibiotics, industrial grade diarrhea, then probiotics to slow things down.

Yes, ask the nurse, tell your BiL. Nurse is the patient's advocate, in theory.

Colorectal surgeon. That's who you want on board. Maybe technology has changed in the last 15 years since I did this type of work, but the way to repair the perforation is to open the abdomen (laparotomy) and run the bowel/large intestine to find the hole (though the most common location statistically is the sigmoid colon--the part of large intestine right before the rectum). Yes, you want to repair the perforation, but the other major concern is avoidance of infection/abscess. Wherever the hole is is going to leak bacteria into the normally-sterile abdominal cavity. An intra-abdominal infection is the greatest worry.

Good luck, Craig.

Thanks Toby, she did the prep so hopefully there wouldn't be much chance of Sepsis(?). Just trying to calm my BIL's fears. I'll tell him to speak with her Nurses.

Anyone remember MoneyGuy from Tucson? His wife passed from this and he stopped posting here shortly thereafter. Very sad.

Prayers and positive thoughts for your sister. That's a horrible, scary freak accident.

Oh wow, yeah, I remember him. Very sad. That sort of thing is certainly a major life changer.

I think all of us oldtimers remember MoneyGuy, and I think his wife's name was Catherine, but I don't recall his. That was tragic.

Hoping for the best possible outcome ....best to you sister and BIL... hang in there Craig!

BIL just texted. I gave him Tobra's advice to speak with the Nurses, they always seem to know what's going on.

Her oxygen saturation is normal and they're taking her off the ventilator. hopefully home in the next few days. Overly cautious is always best.

As always, thanks guys and gals for all the input, advice and prayers. That's what this place is really all about. The greatest resource for anything on the Interwebs!

When I talk to my wife about things discussed here I usually say, "my friends". It usually gets a laugh. But I really appreciate the discourse, banter, and opinions/help when requested.

It is pretty terrifying, but it sounds like she already is turning the corner. As Noah says, you want the pro from Dover, Colorectal surgeon fixing that. Probably a tiny little hole, unless it is more than one tiny little hole. That is where you want the guy who does this all day every day at the plate.


ICU is no place to be hanging around. I would expect them to want to do the repair on this admission.

Oh yeah, tell the BiL to get the ICU folks a fruit basket or something. Then he is the guy that got them a bunch of chocolate covered strawberries, rather the the husband of the woman in bed 6. I am totally down with providing bribes to any service provider that could be of any assistance.

First day of every rotation as a resident, showed up with a 12" cheesecake. They loved my monkey ass.

Geez. Hope she recovers quickly! At 57 I never had a colonoscopy, and after all the threads here, I dread it.

Thinking good thoughts here. Yikes. That is awful.

First thing I thought of. Hope to hell this works out better. It should since they recognized the problem right away. In MoneyGuy's case, they didn't. Sent his wife home after the colonoscopy. Poor lady has a miserable time ahead of her though. I say this from the viewpoint of having had two abdominal surgeries because of a burst diverticuli.

I have nothing to add to this but wish you and your sister the best of luck. Sounds like she's coming around.

Sister is an RN working ICU and CCU at the time when Dad went in for lung surgery. She told us to bring something for the nursing staff and they will take care of Dad, even at a nice hospital like the City Of Hope. After recovery 7 months later, he walked in there himself with Pizza and pastry for the nursing staff. Lots of smiles that day. Good advice from Torba.

Yeah, all the best from me too, to your sister. Scary stuff.

problem is..
some of these Doc's just keep pushing..;)
easy $$ all day long..
your body size.....
and shape..
or previous Surg's..
make a lot difference..
bleeds are quite common..
just a matter of how bad and when they caught it..

thus the broad disclaimer....

Rika