John Murtha in intensive care

[ensho]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/32375.html



Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha was in intensive care at a Virginia hospital Tuesday because of serious complications related to gall bladder surgery last week.

The 77-year-old Democrat underwent scheduled laparoscopic surgery to remove his gallbladder at Bethesda Naval Hospital last Thursday but after his release, sought care at the Virginia Hospital Center over the weekend.

The congressman’s spokesman refused comment on his condition or what led him to be hospitalized again. But two persons said it appeared Murtha’s intestine had been cut inadvertently during the gall bladder removal.

-snip-


Pelosi, who spoke with Murtha’s chief-of-staff John Hugya, said Tuesday evening that her sense was the medical situation was under control, but the chairman faced a long recovery that could keep him sidelined until after the President’s Day recess.
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wishing him well and 'they inadvertently cut is intestine'!!??

[bdamomma]

1. that is not good, I wish him wel.

'they inadvertently cut his intestine'!!??

[Warpy]

2. While laparoscopic surgery is great in terms of patient recovery,

poor visualization of everything in a small operative space means that this can happen very easily. Remember, it's not like an engine compartment. Our innards are squashed together in there. He's likely being given heavy IV antibiotics to cover any spillage of intestinal contents while the nick heals on its own.

I just hope the bellyache got him in before things went really wrong. Peritonitis kills.

(FWIW, there are worse things in the area to nick than the bowel)

[ensho]

3. it just sounds so bad, spillage out of the intestines

he must hurt and be feverish

[Warpy]

4. Oh, yeah, it hurts

Been there after a popped appendix.

Most of the bacteria in the intestinal tract are beneficial and we'd die quickly without them. They just need to stay in there and not be spilled into the abdominal cavity.