Perforated Colon

[CandiceCampos2112]

Good Day,

My father ( 62 years) was recently admitted to a hospital for a perforation in the colon. They have since then done surgery and removed a part of the colon that was effected. He has been in hospital for 7 days. We saw an improvement but today his abdomen is swollen and the wound is bleeding a bit. He has also not passed anything through the bag that they put on the side of him. I am also very concerned about this. He is in a government hospital because he does not have private medical insurance. I am very worried about him and I am battling to get any answers from the doctors, most of them are interns. He was admitted to High care for 1 day after the operation and then moved into a general ward. The care there is not good at all, they have not bathed him or changed his sheets. Today they have sent him for an altra-sound scan to see what is going on inside. They said that his markers were raised. I am waiting for the results. I really am not sure what to do, I was able to get R150 000 credit on my credit card and so I am thinking of moving him to a private hospital. Is there any advice that you can share. I worried sick that my father isn't going to make it and that he is going to die in this horrible place with no dignity. The least I can do is try make this a comfortable as possible. The treatment he has recieved from the nursing  staff is absolutely disgusting.


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

[CandiceCampos2112]

Thank you for the response. He seems a whole lot better today but his bowels have still not moved yet. They will be sending him for scans again tomorrow.

[CalGal]

In a person with a currently less compromised system, it's possible the docs might want to take out the gallbladder if it was causing discomfort and pain. However, with what your father is going through at the present time - internal infection - the docs may feel it's too risky to do further surgery until they can get the infection under control. That may be the high priority issue at the current time.

[CandiceCampos2112]

I see that from the scan, the doctors notes are that the Gall Bladder is filled with sludge. It seems that the liver, pancreas are fine. Would this mean he will need his Gall Bladder removed?

[CandiceCampos2112]

I have taken photos of the scan and the report. The docs have gone home and haven't given me feed back regarding the scan as they promised they would :(

[CandiceCampos2112]

My father said that he was in pain on the thursday evening before the op, he had severe pain and couldn't walk. I then took him into the hospital on Friday evening as he hadn't contacted me about the pain until the Friday afternoon. Saturday morning they did the surgery. The surgeon said at the time it didn't look good as everything had leaked into the cavity and caused an infection and because of his age and that he was a heavy smoker - he has not smoked after the surgery and is continuing not to smoke.They put him on antibiotics immediately have have since then continued with it.

He has been mobile since the op and goes to the toilet on him own. He has also eaten small amounts of food like yogurt, soup and mixed fluids.

I would greatly appreciate any information or advice.

Many Thanks