Small Intestine perforation

My sister had colon cancer surgery a week ago.  Dr. said it went well and there was no need for chemo.  She was clear of cancer.  By the second day after surgery she went into renal failure.  Then respiratory distress, high heart rate 190.  She just seemed to get sicker every day.  She was totally disorented and couldn't even talk making any sence. They finally did a CAT scan and found fluid in her stomach.  Took her back into surgery a week later and found that she had a perforated small intestine.  Dr. redisected her small colon repairing the hole that he said he may have made during surgery.  She came through surgery o.k. but is in ICU with a ventelator.  What damage could have been done by the leakage & the perferation.  Why was her mental state so bad.  She is only 59 and in relatively good health.  She is over weight, smokes on occation and drinks some, but not heavily.  What do you think her chances of full recovery are?  

[donnalen]

Last year, following a laproscopic hysterectomy, I suffered a perforation to my small intestine which was undetected for a day and a half.  Following the repair surgery, which occurred approximatley 36 hours after the initial surgery, I ended up in the SICU with aspiration pneumonia, chemical burns to my lungs, ARDS (Acute Repiratory Distress Syndrome which has 40% mortality rate), septsis; I required 3 additional surgeries for infection and "washout" and was in SICU for total of 18 days.  I survived.  Am still dealing with aftermath.  I send you a prayer for your sister.