A WOMAN has been left with a colostomy bag after her bowel was sliced open during an operation at Warwick Hospital.
The patient was undergoing keyhole surgery for a hysterectomy at the Lakin Road hospital
when surgeons discovered one of her ovaries was stuck to her womb. They had to cut the
organs apart.
She was discharged from the day procedures unit later that day but began complaining about stomach pain and that she could not breathe properly.
The woman called the hospital and was told to visit the emergency department.
A hospital spokesman said doctors then realised her bowel had been perforated when she was receiving treatment for an unrelated condition.
It was six days after she had first undergone surgery.
The woman – who is not named for confidentiality reasons – has now been left with a colostomy bag which removes waste through a drain in the stomach rather than being able to go to the toilet.
The hospital say the operation is reversible and hope she will eventually be able to have the
bag removed.
Warwick Hospital has reported the ‘serious incident’, which happened in February, and has
sent a ‘duty of candour’ letter to the woman informing her about what went wrong.
A hospital spokeswoman told the Observer: “Although rare, perforations of the bowel have
been identified as a potential complication of abdominal surgery of this type.
“Prior to surgery taking place, this risk is communicated to patients as part of informed
consent. If where post-operative issues are identified, appropriate action is taken to ensure
patients are safe and their health is not negatively affected.”
