Coroner's Finding: Hill, Phillip John

82y · Male·sepsis due to faecal peritonitis due to suture failure of bowel anastomosis following right hemi-colectomy due to carcinoma of the colon

An 82-year-old man died from sepsis due to faecal peritonitis following anastomotic breakdown after right hemi-colectomy for colon cancer. Surgery was appropriate and proceeded without incident. Five days post-operatively, he developed symptoms of bowel leak (hiccoughing, abdominal distension, vomiting, confusion) but diagnosis was delayed because he lacked typical sepsis markers (normal white cell count, afebrile). His polycythaemia and advanced age likely compromised wound healing. CT scan eventually revealed contained leak with gas; drainage was attempted but laparotomy showed extensive anastomotic breakdown requiring washout. Despite ICU support, he deteriorated with septic shock and multi-organ failure. The coroner found no criticism of the diagnostic delay given atypical presentation, though earlier recognition would have improved survival prospects.