Appendicitis and Medical Malpractice
An appendicitis attack can strike an individual at any time — and if not treated in a timely and adequate manner by medical professionals, can also be the basis of a medical malpractice suit. Below you will find some very basic information regarding appendicitis diagnosis and treatment; if you have reason to believe that your diagnosis and treatment varied from this or otherwise feel you have a valid medical malpractice claim, contact a medical malpractice lawyer in your area immediately.
What is appendicitis?
The appendix is a small internal organ that seems to have little to no use for the human body’s proper functioning. When it is inflamed, however, it can be a very serious predicament for the patient, and this is called an appendicitis attack. Common symptoms of appendicitis include the following:
- General abdominal pain not easily pinpointed
- Pain and tenderness in the lower right abdomen
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea/vomiting
How is an appendicitis normally diagnosed?
Doctors will evaluate the patient’s reported symptoms and general physical health, then may order a variety of tests to confirm that an appendicitis is present. These may include blood and urine tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, barium enemas, and laparoscopy tests.
How is an appendicitis treated?
While mild forms of appendicitis may be treated with antibiotics, the most common treatment is an appendectomy, which is surgery to remove the inflamed organ from the body. Surgery is sometimes done via laparoscopy, which is mildly invasive and uses a fiberoptic tube with a camera to enter the body, followed by special instruments to remove the appendix.
Surgery may also be done the more traditional way with an incision, and this procedure does have a longer recovery time. In any event, an appendectomy is major surgery that requires a general anesthetic.
With surgery, there is always the risk of complications during and after the procedure, which in the case of an appendectomy, can include the following:
- Abscesses
- Bleeding
- Colon leakage
- Hernia
- Infection
- Inflammation of the abdomen
- Perforation of the appendix
- Sepsis
On what can medical malpractice claims be based with regards to an appendicitis?
There are several potential points during which a medical professional may be negligent regarding an appendectomy from diagnosis to post-surgery, including even an unnecessary surgery.
Again, if you feel like you or a loved one may have a claim based on an appendicitis, contact a medical malpractice lawyer in your area as soon as possible; a statute of limitation may limit the time frame in which you can file a claim.