Patient who underwent surgery sues hospital over complications

GRETNA – A patient who underwent surgery at a local hospital is suing the hospital and staff for not properly and timely diagnosing complications she claims to have received after receiving an operation.

Lucy Dubus Bennelli, and husband Santonio, filed suit against Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner LLC, all employees of Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner LLC, any and all contract health services providers of Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner LLC, Louise G. Collins M.D., Vadim R. Gelman M.D., Paul Villian M.D. and Cynthia A. Williams M.D. in the 24th Judicial District Court on March. 15.

Bennelli was a surgical patient at Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner where she underwent a hysterectomy on Aug. 10, 2010 and was discharged from the hospital the next day. The plaintiff alleges that on Aug. 13 she returned to the hospital emergency room complaining of extreme pain in her lower abdomen and that she had not had a bowel movement since the surgery.

Bennelli asserts that she underwent an x-ray and was ordered to have a consultation with a urologist and an ultrasound the next day.

However, the plaintiff claims that a nurse wrote in her file that ultrasound had been done, the consultation with the urologist was canceled and the plaintiff was again discharged from the hospital on Aug. 14.

Bennelli alleges she returned to the hospital on Aug. 16 complaining again of extreme lower abdominal pain and she was diagnosed with small bowel obstruction, partial failure of her right ureter and later an abdominal abscess, all which she claims could have been avoided with better post-operative monitoring.

The defendant is accused of failing to treat postoperative complications timely and appropriately, failing to properly diagnose the plaintiff’s condition, failing to properly follow the necessary and appropriate steps to treat the plaintiff’s condition, failing to perform appropriate diagnostic tests on plaintiff, failing to review or elicit pertinent medical information as to the plaintiff’s condition and failing to perform appropriate medical procedures on the plaintiff.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for disability, mental pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, future disfigurement and medical expenses.

Bennelli is represented by Allan Berger of New Orleans-based Allan Berger & Associates PLC.

The case has been assigned to Division G Judge Robert A. Pitre Jr.

Case no. 724-897.