A tragic medical case has unfolded in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where a grieving daughter is seeking justice for her deceased mother. Hanna Bowser, the administrator of Susan Patrick's estate, filed a complaint on June 12, 2024, against Dr. Salvatore Lanasa and UPMC Somerset along with Somerset Health Services, Inc., alleging professional negligence that led to her mother's untimely death.
The complaint details a harrowing series of events beginning on November 18, 2022, when Susan Patrick underwent elective surgery at UPMC Somerset to repair a chronic gastrocolonic fistula. Dr. Salvatore Lanasa performed the complex procedure involving resection of the transverse colon and segmental bowel resection. Following the surgery, Susan exhibited concerning symptoms such as tachycardia and an elevated white blood cell count—potential indicators of infection. Despite these signs and subsequent complications including increased blood drainage from her surgical site and abdominal distension, Dr. Lanasa opted for conservative treatment rather than further surgical intervention.
Susan was discharged from Somerset Hospital on November 22, 2022, despite still having an elevated white blood cell count and no bowel movement since the surgery. Tragically, she became short of breath at home the next day and was rushed back to Somerset Hospital by ambulance. Upon arrival at the emergency department in critical condition with severe acidosis and suspected sepsis—a life-threatening condition caused by infection—Susan required immediate intubation.
Despite clear indications of a severe intra-abdominal issue from a CT scan revealing a high-grade small bowel obstruction and internal bleeding near her surgical site, Dr. Lanasa did not take Susan back to the operating room for necessary surgical exploration. Instead, she languished in septic shock until being emergently transferred to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh late on November 23rd.
At UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, surgeons discovered that Susan’s abdomen was filled with feces due to a perforated bowel—a condition that had been present for days—and large portions of her bowel were necrotic. Despite efforts to save her life through multiple bedside surgeries in the ICU, Susan Patrick succumbed to multisystem organ failure due to ischemic bowel caused by dehiscence of intestinal anastomosis on November 24th.
Hanna Bowser is now seeking all damages recoverable under Pennsylvania law for both survival claims and wrongful death claims against Dr. Lanasa and his associated medical institutions. The suit alleges multiple breaches of duty by Dr. Lanasa including failure to recognize critical symptoms post-surgery, delay in appropriate surgical intervention upon readmission to Somerset Hospital, and overall mismanagement leading directly to Susan Patrick’s suffering and eventual death.
Representing Hanna Bowser are attorneys Maggie Cooney and Gregory Unatin from Lupetin & Unatin LLC based in Pittsburgh. The case is filed under Case ID No. GD-24- in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County before Judge [Judge's Name].