[Resolved]  Indian Health Organisation — Minor surgery led to death

Hi!

This is a case of reputed hospital in delhi. My father had problem of rectal prolapse (rectum falls out) with occasional bleeding during defaecation. We consulted 3-4 doctors, and all of them said that you may get temporary relief from medication, but if you want permanent relief surgery is the only option. Although this problem wasnt hindering much his routine life, but we thought that its better to take precaution in time.

With this in mind we consulted surgeons in a reputed hospital in delhi, explained them the case, after which they recommended us to go for Laparoscopic Rectopexy. My dad got admited to the hospital the following week. He was opearted on the same day and was to be discharged a day after. However, the next day of surgery, he experinced a sudden pain in his abdomen, which we informed to the doctor on phone. He said its a normal postoperative pain.

The next day, my dad still had pain in his abdomen and complained the nurse about it. The Doctor came for routine round, when my father again told him that he still had pain and his abdomen is swelling too. Without paying much heed, doctor said you will be fine and we will discharge you today.

In the afternoon, his pain and swelling increased. And just in time of discharge he vomited, that too in huge volume. Doctors were informed about it, but no one came to check him. My father refused to take discharge and stayed back. He was feeling anxious and sweating profusely. even then no one came to check him. In the evening when we send third reminder to the doctor, that his condition is not imporving, his abdomen is swelling and he cant sit or sleep properly, he send a RMP on the round. That RMP, put a tube through my father's nose, from which some green coloured fluid began to come. this was the same fluid that came out in vomiting.

That night none of the doctors attended him and his condition detiorated further. Next day his swelling increased more terribly. doctor came for the routine round and recommended an ultrsound. While the radiologist said he saw some water in his abdomen, doctor said he isn't sure what that fliud is. He gave my father more antibiotics, painkillers etc. and went. At night, he began to have difficulty in breathing. After which we informed doctor and he asked us to go for CT scan. In CT scan some water was found in his lungs and abdomen area. He was admitted to ICU immediately as he had breathing problem.

Next day in afternoon, doctors called another emergency surgery, in which they found 1x1 cm perforation in his sigmoid colon ( this is well within the opeartive field of first opeartion), plus one ltr. of fecal fluid in his abdomen. This fecal fluid led to septecemia (septic in blood) in his body. After this surgery he was kept on ventilator. 6 days after this surgery, the infection reoccured in his body and he died on the 8th day, after the second surgery.

This was something we least expected. A minor surgery resulted in such fatal complications, which took his life. we, the entire family, were kept completely oblivious of his condition in ICU. Doctors told us white lis on several occasions. Now what do you recommend is such a case?