The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found that on 25 August 2020 Dr. Yasser Adly Abdel Rahman reconnected the small intestine to the stomach in a way that created a life‑threatening closed loop. The patient suffered severe pain, persistent vomiting and no bowel movements, and a delayed recognition of the error worsened the situation. A CT on 15 September led another surgeon to perform corrective surgery that likely prevented the patient's death. The tribunal described the operation as "bizarre" and removed Dr. Rahman's name from the Medical Register.
UK Surgeon Banned After Creating Life-Threatening 'Closed Loop' Between Stomach And Small Intestine
Stock image of doctors performing surgeryCredit: Getty
A U.K. surgeon has been erased from the medical register after a disciplinary panel found he performed an unconventional operation that created a life‑threatening "closed loop" in a patient's digestive system.
What Happened
During an emergency operation at Royal Oldham Hospital on 25 August 2020, Dr. Yasser Adly Abdel Rahman reattached the end of the small intestine to the stomach in a way that, according to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), formed a closed circuit. The tribunal described the procedure as "bizarre" and "a totally unconventional operation that is not compatible with life."
Patient's Decline And Delay In Recognition
The patient, referred to as Patient A in the hearing documents, suffered severe and persistent symptoms in the days following the operation. Clinical notes recorded repeated episodes of intense pain, continuous vomiting and an absence of bowel movements. By 4 September the records describe a "pain crisis."
The surgery took place at the Royal Oldham Hospital in ManchesterCredit: Christopher Furlong/Getty
The tribunal found that Dr. Rahman managed the case without seeking additional senior input and "appeared unconcerned" as the patient's condition deteriorated. Nursing staff eventually sought guidance from another consultant, and a delay in recognising the operative error contributed to the patient's continued decline.
Correction And Outcome
On 15 September 2020, a CT scan prompted review by a second surgeon who found the imaging inconsistent with Dr. Rahman's notes. That surgeon returned the patient to theatre and performed a corrective procedure. The corrective surgeon reported that, because of the earlier operation, "the bowel contents leaving the stomach had nowhere to go apart from back into the stomach in a circular fashion." The tribunal concluded that had the error not been corrected, it would have led directly to the patient's death.
Disciplinary Decision
Dr. Rahman described the investigation as a "witch hunt," but the MPTS directed that his name be erased from the Medical Register, effectively banning him from practising medicine in the U.K. The hospital was approached for comment.
Source: Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing documents and reporting on the case.
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