small intestine removed

[babygirl112]

I am pregnant and had to have emergency surgery had a hole in my small intestine. Had 2 ft of it removed. I am now home and my incision was not healing just coming apart.. So went back to the surgeon and he cut me open again.. And said they were going to have Home Health come by the next day to my home and put a vacuum pack on me.. Well they called me that evening and said Home Health would not do it to a pregnant woman.. My incision is not closed and my baby is due on the 24 of December.. Would like to know what can I do to get the Dr to fix this mess he has made.. Scared......................................

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

First things first. He did not "make this mess". You presented with a perforation and peritonitis. This by itself has a substantial chance of losing the pregnancy. He tried to get away with closing your skin to save you some misery but it got infected from the goo in your abdomen. As I understand it, he did manage to avoid loss of the baby. His option would have been to leave it open from the start. I don't understand why a wound VAC would not be allowed in a pregnant woman. I can't think of any rationale but if this therapy is not available generally saline packing of the wound should be fine albeit somewhat slower than the negative pressure therapy.

By the way, what do they think caused the perforation?

[LivingInHope]

Wow, it sounds like a scary position to be in.  

I would suggest you get a hold of your surgeon and tell them home health's position on the vacuum pack and ask what you should do now.

Or, if you have lost all confidence in your surgeon, see if you can book an urgent appointment with another surgeon today and if not, go to the emergency room to get this problem addressed as quickly as possible.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!  Prayed for you and the baby.