Question:
Has anyone had a post -op leak?
My son in law had a leak that almost killed him. It's now 2 1/2 months later and he is still leaking. Anyone with this issue and how long did the leak take to close? He has had 4 procedures to "glue" the hole still no luck. Dr's say "be patient" Thats getting very difficult as he cannot eat or drink nothing( not even a sip of water) Any info would be appreciated — Dotty1775 (posted on August 14, 2007)
August 14, 2007
I would get a new surgeon ASAP and report the old one to the AMA and your
local licensing board. There is obviously something seriously wrong if he
cannot even drink water. Dehydration is serious and can require
hospitalization. The doctor's "just be patient" attitude is
outrageous. If he won't take your SIL's condition seriously, find a doctor
that will. Best wishes to your family - I hope he feels better soon.
~Sarah in VA
— platypus
August 14, 2007
I'm assuming that he is in the hospital and on fluids so he shouldn't be in
danger of dehydrating. Have they taken him in for another surgery
(actually opened him up and looked or are they scoping)? Before going so
far as to complaining to the AMA. Talk to the doctor and find out what his
plan is since the "glue" procedure hasn't worked. Put some
pressure on him. I know it's hard to question Dr's but you have to
remember he is working for your son-in-law...not the other way around. If
he doesn't seem to know.. then get another doctor in for a second opinion.
— wls_srf
August 15, 2007
I think possibly your wording is wrong, a "leak" in the medical
surgical field means a leak in the bowel, you could not have a leak in a
bowel for 2 and a half months. I believe you may means he has an opening
from the surgery that has not sealed and is still draining liquids. Does
your son have a wound vac on his opening and if not ask the doctor why it
would not help him, and is he on antibiotics? If not ask why not. He should
be seen by a wound care specialist if he is not. Please let me know if I am
off base but I am almost certain I am on the right track. If your son is a
long term dietitic this is not out of the question if he has an infection
to take a long time to heal. Has the wound been cultured (tested) to see
what is growing?
— DonnaB.
August 15, 2007
Myhusband had a leak back in 1995. Primitive times. Lucky us, our docs
were doing a 5 yr study on them, which was reported at the ASBS conferfence
in 2000. This leak was at the stoma, where the intestine connects to the
pouch, the most common site. It was very rare to survive them in those
days. Our doc re-operated on the 5th day and he was given 50/50. They
completely rebuit it and he's had no issues whatsoever since then. I do
know someone who was being revised from an older surgery. She'd been
vomiting for 11 years and so was very malbourished when she was revised.
She had a leak and it took months to heal, because her tissue was so
compromised. BUT she pulled thru, and finally began to experience life at
a normal weight and without vomiting for the first time in more than a
decade. There is hope ahead!
— vitalady
August 15, 2007
Well not sure of the leak but have to say if from what my dr has said that
is urgent to get care and fix right away
— Txbookem555
August 17, 2007
I responded to a question you wrote... not sure which came first. I don't
think that the people majority of people posting here understand the
gravity of the situation. While a second opinion is never a bad thing, I
would hold off on calling the AMA and instead focus on your loved one
getting better, being postive, making sure he has support, etc. Please
make sure that the info you use (or your son in law) to guide medical
decision making comes from a reliable source... while many of us here like
to think we are very medically in-tune (if not employed in the field of
health care), without access to your SIL medical records, we can't (and
really shouldn't) be giving you advice. By all means get a second opinion.
Best wishes.
— mrsidknee
January 4, 2010
I had a contained leak post op. His is much worse because anything he would
take by mouth would leak into his gut, which is why he can't have anything
by mouth. Is he in the hospital, or at home on TPN? My leak is supposedly
healed, but I'm still on TPN because I can't keep anything but ice chips
down, and it's been almost 6 weeks since leak was diagnosed! You do have to
be patient unless you want to go through procedure after procedure. It
takes time for it to heal. My nurses let me chew ice chips, then spit them
out while mine was healing - maybe that would help him feel less dry, but
don't swallow! I'm sorry this happened, I know how difficult it is!
— vermeer
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