Individual Experiences an Unexpected Internal Release, Survives Incident Unscathed
Individual Experiences an Unexpected Internal Release, Survives Incident Unscathed
In a recent case study, medical professionals have shared an account that might be the world's most grotesque instance of a sneeze ever recorded. Their patient, a 63-year-old gentleman, expelled his intestines through his recuperating surgical wounds following a powerful sneeze. Remarkably, surgeons managed to restore the man's gut to its original position, and he made a full recovery.
This article includes graphic descriptions that may be distressing for some readers.
This stomach-churning event was outlined in a paper published in May in the American Journal of Medical Case Reports. According to the report, the patient had gone under the knife two weeks earlier for a procedure to eliminate his bladder, which was used to address the complications brought on by previous radiation therapy for prostate cancer. The operation was a success, and following this, his doctors removed the staples from what appeared to be a healed incision. The man and his wife celebrated their new lease on life by having breakfast at a diner.
However, the celebration was short-lived when the man unleashed a forceful sneeze while coughing, followed by a "wet" sensation and pain in his lower abdomen. Upon inspecting his wound, he discovered "several loops of pink intestine" protruding from his surgical incision. To put it mildly, the man was initially at a loss as to how to proceed. He decided to cover his intestines with his shirt, considering driving himself to the hospital, but his wife thought this might worsen his condition. As a result, she phoned for an ambulance instead.
The paramedic on the scene was just as uncertain about how to handle the situation, briefly considering pushing the intestines back inside before remembering her training to treat similar injuries. She opted to cover the man's exposed organs with an abdominal pad soaked in saline and wrapped him in layers of gauze before transporting him to the hospital.
Fortunately, the patient's intestines remained intact throughout the ordeal, and by the time he reached the emergency room, he was in relatively good shape. Three surgeons worked together to carefully maneuver the man's intestines back to their proper position. His recovery progressed smoothly, and he was discharged from the hospital six days later in good health. His diagnosis: a literal case of evisceration, also known as disembowelment.
The reopening of a surgical wound is an uncommon yet recognized complication of bladder removal surgery. While this specific type of event is rare, doctors were only able to find seven similar cases in their research of people who had lost their intestines through a reopened wound. Although the man's unfortunate ordeal ended on a positive note, the doctors noted that on occasion, even skilled medical professionals may struggle to manage such emergencies effectively. Consequently, they hope their study will serve as a valuable resource for both patients and first responders in the future. EMS departments might consider incorporating training in treating such injuries using guidelines derived from combat medicine, which include strategies such as controlling bleeding, rinsing the intestines with sterile saline, and keeping the affected area covered with a moistened cloth.
© Jones, et al/American Journal of Medical Case Reports
Unfortunately, the doctors chose not to include an image of the man's injury in their study. However, they did include an illustration that might have made your mother proud to display on her fridge.
The sheer unprecedented nature of this case has led medical experts to discuss the potential role of advanced technologies in future surgical procedures, aiming to minimize such complications. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of continued research in the field of science, particularly in the area of post-operative patient care, to improve outcomes and ensure a safer future for patients.