Hirschsprung’s Disease is a congenital disorder of the large intestine that occurs in about one in five thousand births. Unfortunately, this disease is responsible for twenty-five percent of all intestinal blockages in newborns. Suspected signs and symptoms in a newborn include constipation, abdominal distension, projectile vomiting, poor feeding, and a failure to pass meconium within forty-eight hours after birth. Physiologically, the affected segment of the large intestine narrows because of the absence of local ganglion nerve cells which function to
Continue Reading Hirschsprung’s Disease and Medical MalpracticeAppendicitis: Early Diagnosis and Treatment are Essential
Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires immediate surgery to remove the appendix. If left untreated, an inflamed appendix will eventually rupture. When this happens intestinal contents (stool and bacteria) spill into the abdominal cavity causing infectious peritonitis, a serious and toxic inflammation of the abdominal cavity’s lining (the peritoneum). This condition can be fatal unless it is treated quickly with surgery and strong antibiotics.
SYMPTOMS: Usually pain is the first symptom, starting in the mid abdomen around
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Small Bowel Obstruction and Medical Malpractice
The small bowel is a long coiled hollow tube, called a tract, that is approximately twenty-five feet long. It includes the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. A small bowel obstruction, also known as a small intestinal obstruction, is a mechanical or functional (paralytic) blockage of the intestinal tract, which prevents the normal transit of digestive products. It can occur at any level throughout the jejunum and ileum, and is considered a medical emergency when it occurs. The condition is often treated conservatively
Continue Reading Small Bowel Obstruction and Medical MalpracticeLaparoscopic Cholecystectomy- Minimally Invasive Gallbladder Surgery
The surgical removal of the gallbladder is called cholecystectomy. Gallbladder problems are usually caused by the presence of gall stones, which are small hard masses consisting of cholesterol or bile salts that form in the gallbladder or in the bile duct. A problem may arise when one or more gallstones block the flow of bile out of the gallbladder. This may cause swelling, abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, and fever. If a gallstone blocks the common bile duct (the larger
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Sigmoid Colon Volvulus and Medical Malpractice
The term volvulus is derived from the Latin word volve, which means to twist. A colonic volvulus occurs when a part of the colon twists on its mesentery, resulting in acute, subacute, or chronic colonic obstruction. Volvulus involving the sigmoid colon is the most common, occuring in 75% of cases. Sigmoid volvulus occurs when the last part of the large bowel just before the rectum (named for its “S” shape) twists on its self. It is common in elderly men
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