St. Francis complaint alleges post-operative bowel leak and sepsis after colon surgery
The complaint alleges that after a transanal minimally invasive surgery fully excised a stage-T1 rectal adenocarcinoma, Dr. William Taylor recommended a major lower anterior resection that the filing characterizes as unnecessary. According to the complaint, the later surgery involved complications including an anastomotic leak, and post-operative drainage allegedly showed a fecal leak. The complaint alleges that Dr. Taylor and intensivists did not promptly diagnose the leak, obtain timely source control, or provide immediate post-operative antibiotics before the patient died from sepsis-related multi-organ failure.
Overview
This page concerns a St. Francis surgical case in which an initial rectal lesion had been completely excised with clear margins, but a later major colon surgery allegedly was unnecessary and was followed by an anastomotic leak, fecal peritonitis, delayed source control, lack of immediate postoperative antibiotics, and fatal sepsis.
Chronology
- According to the complaint, the patient underwent TAMIS in November 2019 to remove a large rectal lesion, and pathology confirmed the lesion was completely excised with clear margins.
- The complaint alleges that despite those findings, Dr. William Taylor recommended a major lower anterior resection just a few weeks later, and the patient followed that recommendation.
- According to the complaint, Dr. Taylor encountered several complications during the LAR, including an anastomotic leak that required hand-sewn repair; after surgery, the patient developed an anastomotic leak that led to fecal peritonitis.
- The complaint alleges that over the next few days, drainage showed the fecal leak, but Dr. Taylor and the intensivists did not promptly diagnose it, achieve timely surgical source control, or provide immediate postoperative antibiotics before the patient died from multi-organ failure due to sepsis.
Alleged failures
- Dr. William Taylor allegedly recommended a major lower anterior resection despite pathology showing the earlier lesion was completely excised with clear margins.
- Dr. Taylor and the intensivists allegedly failed to promptly diagnose an evident anastomotic leak and obtain timely surgical source control.
- Hospital staff allegedly failed to treat the patient with antibiotics in the immediate postoperative period before fatal sepsis developed.
Entities and tags
Questions this example answers
What does the St. Francis bowel leak sepsis allege?
The complaint alleges that after a transanal minimally invasive surgery fully excised a stage-T1 rectal adenocarcinoma, Dr. William Taylor recommended a major lower anterior resection that the filing characterizes as unnecessary. According to the complaint, the later surgery involved complications including an anastomotic leak, and post-operative drainage allegedly showed a fecal leak. The complaint alleges that Dr. Taylor and intensivists did not promptly diagnose the leak, obtain timely source control, or provide immediate post-operative antibiotics before the patient died from sepsis-related multi-organ failure.
Who is identified in this public case summary?
This public case summary identifies St. Francis Health, LLC, Dr. William Taylor, and Intensivists. It also tags the source-supported entities St. Francis Health, LLC, Dr. William Taylor, TAMIS, Lower anterior resection, and Anastomotic leak.
What alleged failures are summarized here?
Dr. William Taylor allegedly recommended a major lower anterior resection despite pathology showing the earlier lesion was completely excised with clear margins. Dr. Taylor and the intensivists allegedly failed to promptly diagnose an evident anastomotic leak and obtain timely surgical source control. Hospital staff allegedly failed to treat the patient with antibiotics in the immediate postoperative period before fatal sepsis developed.