Florida Man Experiences Rare Medical Emergency During Breakfast
A Florida man experienced a rare and alarming incident during breakfast at a diner with his wife. The 63-year-old individual, who had recently undergone abdominal surgery, sneezed forcefully and coughed, leading to a shocking discovery. He felt a “wet” sensation and lower abdomen pain, only to find several loops of his pink intestines protruding from a surgical wound outside his body.
The occurrence of evisceration, as detailed in the American Journal of Medical Case Reports, is a seldom-seen complication following abdominal surgery. In this particular case, the man had a history of prostate cancer and had undergone radiation therapy, ultimately leading to a cystectomy to remove his urinary bladder. Despite being discharged in good condition after the successful surgery, the unexpected sneeze unveiled a distressing situation for him and his wife.
The man’s uncertainty on how to protect his exposed intestines further complicated the situation. Recounting the incident, he attempted to cover his bowel with his shirt to drive himself to the hospital, but his wife intervened and called an ambulance. Upon arrival, the paramedic faced challenges as standard treatment guidelines did not cover evisceration. Instead of attempting to reinsert the bowel through the laceration, she employed a saline-moistened abdominal pad and gauze roll to stabilize the situation before administering pain medication.
Following swift actions at the hospital, three surgeons carefully inspected and returned the exposed bowel to the abdominal cavity, closing the wound with various sutures. The man was discharged six days later in good condition after thorough examination. While wound dehiscence is a known complication of open cystectomy, evisceration through the abdominal wall is exceedingly rare, with only seven documented cases. Factors such as body mass index and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are typically associated with this complication, but were not present in this case.
The post-sneeze coughing episode was identified as a potential trigger for the evisceration, highlighting the intricate nature of such medical incidents. The detailed case report sheds light on the complexities and challenges faced by medical professionals in handling rare and unexpected complications, emphasizing the importance of quick thinking and appropriate intervention in critical situations.
