Daniel E. Holloway Medical malpractice, other select cases
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Real case examples

Post-operative bowel leak and sepsis after colon surgery at St. Francis

This complaint states as follows: The patient, a 49-year-old man, underwent a transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) in November 2019 to remove a large rectal lesion that was found to contain a stage-T1 adenocarcinoma. Pathology confirmed the lesion was completely excised with clear margins. However, despite these findings, the surgeon, Dr. William Taylor, recommended that the patient undergo a major lower anterior resection (LAR) surgery just a few weeks later. The patient took Dr. Taylor’s recommendation. During the surgery, Dr. Taylor encountered several complications, including an anastomotic leak that required hand-sewn repair. After the surgery, the patient developed an anastomotic leak that led to fecal peritonitis. Over the next few days, the fecal leak was evident from drainage in the patient's surgical drain, but Dr. Taylor and the intensivists caring for him failed to promptly diagnose the leak or achieve timely surgical source control. They also failed to treat the patient with antibiotics in the immediate postoperative period. By the time the hospital staff responded, it was too late. The patient died from multi-organ failure due to sepsis.

System
St. Francis Health
Facility
St. Francis Health
Providers involved
St. Francis Health, LLC / Dr. William Taylor / Intensivists
Pattern
Unnecessary colon surgery followed by delayed diagnosis and treatment of an anastomotic leak
Harm
Multi-organ failure and death

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

  1. The patient underwent TAMIS in November 2019 to remove a large rectal lesion, and pathology confirmed the lesion was completely excised with clear margins.
  2. Despite those findings, Dr. William Taylor recommended that the patient undergo a major lower anterior resection just a few weeks later, and the patient followed that recommendation.
  3. During the LAR, Dr. Taylor encountered several complications, including an anastomotic leak that required hand-sewn repair; after surgery, the patient developed an anastomotic leak that led to fecal peritonitis.
  4. Over the next few days, drainage allegedly showed the fecal leak, but Dr. Taylor and the intensivists failed to promptly diagnose it, failed to achieve timely surgical source control, and failed to 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

St. Francis Health, LLCDr. William TaylorTAMISLower anterior resectionAnastomotic leakFecal peritonitisIntensivistsPost-operative sepsisDelay in source controlFailure to treatGeneral surgeryCritical care

Questions this example answers

What does the St. Francis bowel leak sepsis allege?

This complaint states as follows: The patient, a 49-year-old man, underwent a transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) in November 2019 to remove a large rectal lesion that was found to contain a stage-T1 adenocarcinoma. Pathology confirmed the lesion was completely excised with clear margins. However, despite these findings, the surgeon, Dr. William Taylor, recommended that the patient undergo a major lower anterior resection (LAR) surgery just a few weeks later. The patient took Dr. Taylor’s recommendation. During the surgery, Dr. Taylor encountered several complications, including an anastomotic leak that required hand-sewn repair. After the surgery, the patient developed an anastomotic leak that led to fecal peritonitis. Over the next few days, the fecal leak was evident from drainage in the patient's surgical drain, but Dr. Taylor and the intensivists caring for him failed to promptly diagnose the leak or achieve timely surgical source control. They also failed to treat the patient with antibiotics in the immediate postoperative period. By the time the hospital staff responded, it was too late. The patient died from multi-organ failure due to sepsis.

Who is identified in this public case example?

This public case example 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.