Surgical options for a perforated bowel

My Mum has been in intensive care for 49 days with a perforated bowel due to a mistake during a routine ERCP.  She is 70 years old and despite some relatively minor health problems (gall/ bile stones) walked into the hospital a healthy woman.  She has overcome some major obstacles and is currently 'clinically well' i.e. maintaining her own blood pressure etc., off ventilation, conscious and communicating (on IV feed).  However, despite several surgical procedures, there is little evidence of healing in the bowel (duodenum) and I am terrified that we are running out of surgical options.  She has 2 drains & a stoma & cath at the moment and has undergone several 'washes' with saline.  She has had a vac dressing but this has been removed.  I am unsure as to the state of any sepsis but she is on antibiotics and I don't think her white cell count is elevated at the moment. She still has an open abdominal wound for surgical purposes. I believe the surgeons are now perplexed as to what to do next and I am so frustrated that IF ONLY her bowel could heal, she is in with a chance.  She has suffered so much and through no fault of her own.  Does anyone have any ideas of how we can help her heal?  What could be preventing this?  What 'next steps' in treatment/ surgery are there?  I am meeting the surgeon tonight and my heart is heavy.  Such a long time to keep fighting to be thwarted by surgical limitations.


This discussion is related to recovery after emergency perforated colon surgery.

[Morecambe]

I suggest that you ask the surgeons about the feasibility of a total or partial colectomy - i.e. remove (= cut out/excise/resect) the perforated/troublesome part(s) of the large intestines.  You can live perfectly satisfactorily without a colon (I underwent a total colectomy about six years ago for torrential diverticular bleeding).  It may be better to contemplate this seemingly more drastic step rather than endless "band-aids" to try and conquer a chronic infection (peritonitis?? which is serious and often follows a perforated/ruptured bowel).

Is the surgeon a "general surgeon" or a specialist G.I. surgeon - I urge you to seek advice from the latter when you meet today.

regards
Morecambe