Bowel Obstruction
Nursing Home Must Notice Changes in Condition
An often-overlooked form of elder neglect is a lack of monitoring and oversight which leads to a preventable bowel obstruction. Which if left untreated can be fatal. There are many symptoms that could be the signs of an intestinal issue. It is important that elder care providers are aware of changes in a resident,s condition including their digestive health so medical attention can be obtained for someone in distress.
Residents Need Supervision to Prevent Wandering and Elopement.
According to federal regulation Freedom from abuse, neglect and exploltation, accidents. The facility must ensure that — (1) The resident environment remains as free of accident hazards as is possible; and (2) Each resident receives adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents. (this includes risks from preventable bowel obstructions).
According to the National Institute of Health, small bowel obstruction is a common surgical emergency due to mechanical blockage of the bowel. Small bowel obstruction can be caused by many pathologic processes, but the leading cause in the developed world is intra-abdominal adhesions. Small bowel obstructions can be partial or complete and can be non-strangulated or strangulated.
Bowel Impaction Deaths Can Be Prevented with Intervention
According to the Mayo Clinic, signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction include:
- Crampy abdominal pain that comes and goes
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas
- Swelling of the abdomen
Fecal Impaction Can be Fatal
The NIH, states that the morbidity and mortality of bowel obstruction are dependent on early diagnosis and management. If any strangulated bowel is left untreated, there is a mortality rate of close to 100%. However, if surgery is undertaken within 24-48 hours, the mortality rates are less than 10%. Factors that determine the morbidity include the age of patient, comorbidity, and delay in treatment. Today, the overall mortality of bowel obstruction is still about 5%-8%.
Contact an Experienced Attorney
After an incident is important to hold the facility accountable to ensure that the nursing home learns from the incident and implements necessary policies and procedures to keep their residents safe from accidents and injuries. For a free consultation with Attorney Kenneth L. LaBore call 612-743-9048 or call him toll free at 1-888-452-6589 or send an email to: KLaBore@MNnursinghomeneglect.com. Disclaimer
