DISCLAIMER: Please note that every case is different and these verdicts and settlements, while accurate, do not represent what we may obtain for you in your case.
Surgery for colon cancer botched in 79-year-old patient
During a routine colonoscopy, doctors discovered 79 year old Plaintiff had an atypical polyp of the sigmoid colon with the possibility of it being cancerous.Polyp was removed and sent for biopsy.Plaintiff underwent a low anterior resection with an end-to-end anastomosis to remove the cancerous polyp. While recovering at home, Plaintiff noted feces discharging from her vagina. Upon evaluation, defendant surgeon noted “obvious recto-vaginal fistula.Part of the posterior wall of the vagina was probably caught in the stapling device.”Plaintiff’s subsequent hospitalization required no food by mouth, causing subsequent fluid and electrolyte imbalances and causing her kidneys to malfunction.During the redo-anastomosis, it was discovered Plaintiff’s rectum had been stapled to the vagina during the initial surgery, requiring an ileostomy which was not closed until ten months later. Plaintiff suffered several subsequent hospitalizations for acute renal failure and wound management.As a consequence of her treatment, Plaintiff is now in Stage 4 (severe chronic) renal failure.At her current rate of renal failure, Plaintiff can expect to be on dialysis within 1.5 years.Prior to surgery Plaintiff already had renal insufficiency.
