This case involves a 71-year-old female patient admitted for surgical aortic valve replacement and coronary revascularization. Following the surgery, she suffered abdominal distension. The patient also had nausea, a lack of bowel movements, and elevated white blood cell count. This went on for 4 days until the patient was discharged. The night before the patient’s discharge, a nurse requested the critical care physician on-call to see the patient due to her persisting symptoms and lack of bowel movement. The physician saw the patient and administered a variety of laxatives. When an acute care nurse practitioner discharged the patient the following day, the patient had abnormally rapid breathing and heart rate, no bowel movements since surgery, and an elevated white blood cell count.
Following her discharge, the patient continued to experience abdominal pain, distension, nausea, and constipation. The patient called the hospital’s cardiac-thoracic unit to inform them of her state. The physician who answered said the patient’s issues were intestinal related and suggested she call her doctor in the morning if she was not feeling better. The following morning the patient suffered a heart attack and passed away. The cause of death was septic shock due to small bowel infarction and obstruction.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
Do you have experience with patients like the one described in this case?
Should a patient be discharged if he has unstable vital signs and an elevated WBC count after major surgery?
Have you ever had a patient develop the outcome/complications noted in this case?
Expert Witness Response E-054581
Yes, I have experience with patients like the one described in this case. I was a coronary care unit RN for 5 years as well as a cardiology NP, so I am familiar with coronary revascularization and valve replacements. I currently work in hospital medicine and often deal with acute constipation/impaction and work-up for leukocytosis. In addition, I have surgical experience from working with the orthopedic spine population and am therefore familiar with opioid-induced constipation and the need for a scheduled bowel regimine. I have had patient develop acute bowel obstructions from chronic opioid use postoperatively and in those patients not on solid bowel regimines. The red flag here would be the persistent lack of a bowel movement and the question of whether or not serial CBCs were completed on this patient early in their presentation, especially in the setting of post-op leukocytosis. With the patient's complaints the night before discharge this patient should have had a KUB (abdominal x-ray) completed to r/o obstruction. Also, were bowel sounds ever assessed on this patient post-op before feeding him? Was he tolerating PO? Was he febrile?
About the author
Wendy Ketner, M.D.
Dr. Wendy Ketner is a distinguished medical professional with a comprehensive background in surgery and medical research. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Expert Institute, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's most important client relationships. Dr. Ketner's extensive surgical training was completed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she gained hands-on experience in various general surgery procedures, including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, appendectomies, mastectomies for breast cancer, breast reconstruction, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, and colorectal surgery. She also provided care in the surgical intensive care unit.
Her research interests have focused on post-mastectomy reconstruction and the surgical treatment of gastric cancer, including co-authoring a textbook chapter on the subject. Additionally, she has contributed to research on the percutaneous delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction.
Dr. Ketner's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from Yale University in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Moreover, she is a member of the Board of Advisors for Opollo Technologies, a fintech healthcare AI company, contributing her medical expertise to enhance healthcare technology solutions. Her role at Expert Institute involves leveraging her medical knowledge to provide insights into legal cases, underscoring her unique blend of medical and legal acumen.
