Seeking advice: Colostomy pouch after kidney surgery?

Hi everyone, I've joined this forum hopefully to get advice for my dad. I would like to know if it is common to receive a colostomy pouch after surgery to remove one of his kidneys? He had the operation through keyhole surgery. They told him after the first surgery that everything went well and he was really happy. Then he started to suffer with severe pains, etc., and went back to the hospital. This was a good few weeks after the operation. They ran a CT scan, etc., and found he had a blockage and he needed emergency surgery to fix it, which resulted in a section of bowel being removed and the need for a colostomy pouch (reversible). Just before the second operation to fix the blockage, the hospital where he had the first surgery rang to tell him he needed to go back to the hospital urgently, as they had re-looked at his notes and found there were complications during the first surgery. He's obviously upset and I was just looking for advice on if it is common or not. Thanks, sorry the info is vague but I'm not well informed on all the facts at the moment. Any help or answers would be really appreciated.

Hi in need,
I have never had a kidney removed, but to the best of my knowledge, it is not common to receive a colostomy after that surgery. I think it's imperative that you find out what the complications were during your dad's first surgery. Hopefully, you will find out a lot more after talking to your dad's doctor. You said your dad had a blockage. Did he suffer from intestinal/bowel issues prior to his surgery?
I hope your dad is healing well, and you get your answers. Please keep us posted.
I wish you the best,
Melissa

Melissa is right. You should know what those complications are before you proceed. I would also urge you to get an independent medical opinion. Be sure your dad's consulting specialist sees all pertinent records. I am not at all impressed by the professionalism of the original surgical team.
PB

Hi, thanks for the replies. No, my dad had nothing wrong with his bowels before the kidney removal. He went to see a specialist recently for results concerning the section of bowel removed. He was told the blockage was caused by scarring of the bowel from the kidney removal surgery and that he'll be able to have the colostomy reversed in about 6 months. He's thinking about seeing a solicitor as they told him the first surgery all went well. He was in a lot of pain after the surgery and was in and out of the hospital. They told him the pain was from the surgery and nothing was wrong until he was rushed back into the hospital. It was nearly 6 months after the kidney removal surgery that they told him there were complications and he was in the hospital by this time about to have the emergency op to remove the blockage. Does anyone think this may be surgical negligence? I've done a lot of reading and I think it might be the case. Thanks for the replies, folks.

I think I would get the opinion of both a urologist and a rectal/colon surgeon before I would do anything else and do not leave until you have all your questions answered with your dad present, of course. Something about what you wrote just seems not quite right, but I think when it comes to any surgery, you should always get a second opinion. If your current doctor or your dad is not happy with this, then you for sure need to see another doctor and get referrals and recommendations from maybe the hospital itself as to who is the best to aid you. Good luck!

May we'll be worth speaking to a solicitor but make sure you find a good clinical negligence one. Shouldn't cost anything as usually no win no fee. I have a great one. So far, the first expert report commissioned said I should never have needed any ops if lymphoma diagnosis when it was visible on scans rather than Crohn's assumption. I had an emergency op resulting in a 2-year ileostomy, delayed chemo, a second surgery to reverse ileostomy, losing half colon plus a kidney damaged by aggressive lymphoma and another op to repair incisional hernia next year.

Not usually a fan of the litigation culture but think the docs need to be held to account for negligence. They are often quite blasé about stomas but it has a huge impact on life, even when reversible.

Let me know if you want the details of the solicitor. Nothing to lose from chatting to them, which is all we did initially. Have three years to bring the case once you first learn of the potential negligence (in the UK that is).

Also think about changing surgeons.

Sorry to hear of your father's major problems. I am having trouble understanding why having a kidney removed should lead to a blockage in the bowel, unless something was damaged during the original surgery and not rectified straight away. May I suggest that as you are in the UK, you get in touch with PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service). You can first have a look on the web to get their contact details. Good luck, Trudel.

Hi,

I'm sorry your dad ran into complications from the removal of a kidney.

I was only 19 when I had my 3rd surgery for the removal of the diseased rectum (had my ostomy for 4 years).

I developed an allergy to the tape they used and had an infected, very sore bottom for weeks, but that would have been the easy part.

After surgery, my bladder didn't work... and the doctors had no explanations for it. Trauma, cut nerves... many ideas... but no proof. I was catheterized for 10 weeks until my bladder started to function again... but I had no sensation... and still don't, 50 years later.

My parents were simple people and were just glad that I was okay... so they didn't pursue legal issues, but I guess we could have sued.

Because of the situation, my insides are like someone who had 10 pregnancies... not just two. I have to "bear down" to pee... and not just release. So all the muscles are damaged from overuse.

In my experience, doctors cover up for each other... and my parents were told unexpected things happen with this type of surgery...

And then through the years, after talking to other people, I've found out that was true. But it didn't change the fact that I was "more damaged" than was anticipated.

Best of luck to you and your dad.

Hi in need.  Like others, I'm not a fan of litigation but I'm a real believer in fairness.  We shouldn't suffer because someone screwed up while cutting inside our bodies.  The tons of money they're paid (at least in the US) helps them afford their malpractice insurance which pays for their mistakes.  There shouldn't be mistakes and a judges ruling won't eliminate pain or return one's body to pre-surgical screwup condition.  If we just let it go and say nothing, what's the incentive to perform better?  

Sorry for your experience and hope all gets well soon.

Respectfully,

Mike