The Case of the Missing Intestine

[Narragansett]

Saturday night, one of my wife's sisters died in the hospital. She was quite sick, and after extensive tests it was determined that a small section of her small intestine had died. So they got her ready, and began to perform the surgery on Friday night.

When they opened her up, they found that the entire small intestine was dead which is basically a death sentence. So they closed her back up, filled her full of morphine and sent her to ICU where she died several hours later.

Now one of my new BIL's is a doctor, and wanted an autopsy. So the next day they took the body and began to do the autopsy. What they discovered was that whoever worked on her before failed to stuff the small intestine back into the body cavity, and nobody has any idea where the dead 22 foot intestine is.

Needless to say the autopsy has been put on hold pending a search and rescue mission for the missing intestine

 

[rwsmith]

I upvoted this.....

...for content. What an awful thing to happen.

 

[Breakaway500]

Ive been postponing a hip replacement and stories like this are why.

 

[Chuck24]

Both sorry for your loss and very confused

 

[arjay]

That’s extremely disturbing

 

[Narragansett]

That’s extremely disturbing

Well, it is a true story. The kind you can't make up

 

[CH4]

Holy small bowel re-movement!

Those type of mistakes are absolutely inexcusable.
My deepest sympathies to your family.

 

[NYlakesider]

Einsteins brain comes to mind.

Some pathologists have been known to have their own private collection.

 

[LVSteve]

Sorry to read this. It was probably sent to the lab for analysis looking for cancer or whatever.

I remember seeing a case like this on the 'Dr G Medical Examiner' show. I cannot recall what they determined/estimated started the problem.

 

[ladder13]

Sorry to hear that Pete.

Every trip to a hospital is filled with the unknown.

 

[steelslaver]

Sorry for you and your wife's loss.

There may be a logical explanation. They probably checked its entire length looking for any healthy sections. Finding none, there was no real reason to put it back in.

But, sometimes you really have to wonder, lot of deaths due to "medical misadventure"

 

[Rudi]

That is horrid. Hospitals are to be avoided. Sad.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

A very tragic event for the family and friends.

The lack of definitive explanation could be due to legal advice intended to shield the hospital and staff from civil action. It is probable that someone knows exactly what happened and who made the decisions, but now understands that coming forward with that information could be a career-ending event.

 

[robvious]

My condolences for your loss...
I am missing a large part of my rectum and large intestine.. but mine was sent off for cancer research purposes...

 

[Dave.357]

I , like most hate hospitals.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[biku324]

I, too, am sorry for your loss.

Good to see spending 5X more than anywhere in the world means high standards.

 

[boykinlp]

Saturday night, one of my wife's sisters died in the hospital. She was quite sick, and after extensive tests it was determined that a small section of her small intestine had died. So they got her ready, and began to perform the surgery on Friday night.

When they opened her up, they found that the entire small intestine was dead which is basically a death sentence. So they closed her back up, filled her full of morphine and sent her to ICU where she died several hours later.

Now one of my new BIL's is a doctor, and wanted an autopsy. So the next day they took the body and began to do the autopsy. What they discovered was that whoever worked on her before failed to stuff the small intestine back into the body cavity, and nobody has any idea where the dead 22 foot intestine is.

Needless to say the autopsy has been put on hold pending a search and rescue mission for the missing intestine

YIKES!! Thank goodness your BIL is a doctor, and ordered an autopsy! After all, a 22’ section of small intestine doesn’t just get up and walk away after surgery! It has to be disposed of in the proper way by the correct personnel. That means others know the truth and eventually it will come out………hopefully!
Larry

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Saturday night, one of my wife's sisters died in the hospital. She was quite sick, and after extensive tests it was determined that a small section of her small intestine had died. So they got her ready, and began to perform the surgery on Friday night.

When they opened her up, they found that the entire small intestine was dead which is basically a death sentence. So they closed her back up, filled her full of morphine and sent her to ICU where she died several hours later.

Now one of my new BIL's is a doctor, and wanted an autopsy. So the next day they took the body and began to do the autopsy. What they discovered was that whoever worked on her before failed to stuff the small intestine back into the body cavity, and nobody has any idea where the dead 22 foot intestine is.

Needless to say the autopsy has been put on hold pending a search and rescue mission for the missing intestine

That is....disturbing....The best thing is to unleash your BIL the doctor-he knows all the rocks to look under and questions to be asked. Remember there is a difference between mal-practice and just a bad outcome. What would be the purpose of an autopsy other than to confirm-yep the small intestine was dead. Unless there is a reason to examine the small intestine for other purposes...but then again this is NOT my wife's sister. Unless there is some concern as to how and why the intestine died for legal purposes does it really matter?
Had a similar issue with my dad when he died. We could have gone further but he was sick, he died and wasn't coming back and all it would have done was prolong the grieving. BUt every situation is different.
God Bless and Godspeed to you and your family in this trying time.
Gary

 

[lkabug]

My condolences to your wife and you for your loss.

 

[dave1918a2]

Sorry for Your loss.
I thought Dahmer was dead.