A Washington man who had surgery for an urgent appendix removal learned his surgeons removed a different organ instead — leading to four more surgeries and chronic pain that has lasted for nearly a year, according to a newly filed lawsuit.
After George Piano arrived with extreme stomach pain at the University of Washington Medical Center’s emergency room in Seattle on Dec. 6, 2022, he was diagnosed with appendicitis and underwent what was supposed to be an appendectomy operation, a complaint filed Nov. 2 says.
However, according to the complaint, surgeons didn’t take out Piano’s appendix and actually removed a piece of his bowel — specifically “diverticulitis on (his) lower colon” that day.
Diverticulitis occurs when diverticula, “small pockets that can develop” on the inside of the colon, become inflamed, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Piano’s stomach pain worsened after the procedure and two days later, the medical center told him his appendix was still inside his body, the complaint says.
His surgeons are accused of being unable to find the organ on Dec. 6, according to a news release issued Nov. 3 by Piano’s attorney Edward H. Moore.
On Dec. 8, Piano had a second surgery to remove his appendix, the complaint says.
According to the lawsuit, Piano’s surgeon then told him he needed an additional procedure to repair a new issue — a “leaky colon” — as a result of the first surgery.
“I was suffering from a leaking colon that created sepsis and infection,” Piano told KIRO 7 News in an interview. “And I almost died from it.”
Piano has been left with “numerous medical problems” he never had before Dec. 6 and needed an ileostomy bag installed — “where (his) intestine protruded from the abdomen so that all waste would be expelled into the bag,” according to the complaint. The ileostomy bag procedure lasted 45 minutes, the complaint says.
Now, Piano and his wife, Elizabeth Piano, both of Lake Forest Park, are suing the University of Washington and Piano’s two UW surgeons, Nidhi Udyavar and Paul Herman, Moore announced in the release. The defendants are accused of negligence, the complaint shows.
UW Medicine media relations director Susan Gregg told McClatchy News in a statement on Nov. 7 that “we are unable to comment on the specifics of the case.”
“UW Medicine strives to provide the best possible care to all of our patients; their safety and well-being is deeply important to us,” Gregg added.
According to the lawsuit, Piano has had four surgeries following the Dec. 6 surgery.
It’s also caused him to delay seeking cancer treatment, endure “extreme continued pain,” need weekly physical therapy visits and nurse visits to change his ileostomy bag at his home, the complaint says.
The Piano’s marital life has also become strained as a result of the surgical error on Dec. 6, according to the complaint.
Elizabeth Piano has delayed and rescheduled her own medical appointments to care for her husband, including tending to his wounds and emptying his ileostomy bag and more, the complaint says.
“To watch someone you love, your family member go through that kind of trauma. It’s horrifying, it is,” Elizabeth Piano, who also goes by Betsy, told KIRO 7 News.
The Pianos have also missed family gatherings and scheduled trips, including their planned trip to Texas for Elizabeth Piano’s mother’s 101st birthday celebration, due to the surgical mistake, according to the complaint.
“Neither George or Betsy expected to spend upwards of a year dealing with open wounds, horrific pain, multiple hospitalizations, constant medical care and extended infirmity,” the news release said.
The lawsuit seeks to have a judgment issued against the defendants and hopes to recover relief “as the court deems appropriate,” the complaint says.
