Bowel Perforation Causes Multiple Organ Failure and Death

Due to the delay in detecting the patient's perforated bowel, the patient allegedly suffered from trouble breathing and had parts of his intestines removed.

ByWendy Ketner, M.D.

Updated on

Bowel Perforation Causes Multiple Organ Failure and Death

Case Overview

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Questions to the Internal Medicine expert and their responses

Q1

When a patient presents to the hospital with these symptoms, when should further diagnostic testing be ordered to rule out a bowel perforation?

If the patient's pain on presentation was that severe, it would indicate a more serious underlying issue than standard constipation. In this situation, the standard of care in the emergency department would have been to obtain a CT scan of the abdomen to determine the etiology of the pain.

About the expert

This board certified internal medicine specialist has acquired multiple high ranking clinical and administrative leadership positions in healthcare management throughout his 20+ year medical career. These include medical directorships at major healthcare networks, where he has been responsible for the health and safety precautions as well as clinical protocol management.

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About the author

Wendy Ketner, M.D.

Wendy Ketner, M.D.

Dr. Wendy Ketner is a distinguished medical professional with a comprehensive background in surgery and medical research. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Expert Institute, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's most important client relationships. Dr. Ketner's extensive surgical training was completed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she gained hands-on experience in various general surgery procedures, including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, appendectomies, mastectomies for breast cancer, breast reconstruction, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, and colorectal surgery. She also provided care in the surgical intensive care unit.

Her research interests have focused on post-mastectomy reconstruction and the surgical treatment of gastric cancer, including co-authoring a textbook chapter on the subject. Additionally, she has contributed to research on the percutaneous delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction.

Dr. Ketner's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from Yale University in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Moreover, she is a member of the Board of Advisors for Opollo Technologies, a fintech healthcare AI company, contributing her medical expertise to enhance healthcare technology solutions. Her role at Expert Institute involves leveraging her medical knowledge to provide insights into legal cases, underscoring her unique blend of medical and legal acumen.

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