This case takes place in Indiana and involves a female patient with a past medical history of multiple chronic conditions. The patient had presented to the ERÂ due to complaints of chest pain and shortness of breath. Once at the hospital, an abdominal x-ray was performed, which revealed a band of density in a small section of her lungs, however her lungs were otherwise clear. However, there was large amounts of stool intermixed with air throughout the colon, which was compatible with fecal impaction or constipation. Several additional tests were preformed at this point, one of which detected an elevated white blood cell count, however the patient was diagnosed with constipation and sent home.
Some time after initially leaving the hospital, the patient presented to the ER again complaining of symptoms of dehydration. A chest x-ray showed massive right pneumonia. Antibiotics were started immediately, however she had a spiking fever and a diagnosis of severe sepsis and septic shock. The patient was admitted to the ICU, where she succumbed to her pneumonia and died.
