Carolane Honnery, 65, had elective surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm at John Hunter Hospital in October 2006.

It is alleged that a graft inserted during the surgery perforated Ms Honnery's caecum, which resulted in life-threatening complications.

The perforated caecum a pouch at the junction of the small and large intestines was not diagnosed until May 2007.

The surgeon who operated on Ms Honnery in May 2007 noted: "The graft was intimate with the caecum. There was a cavity, which once opened, produced faecal material. It became clear that the complex septic process involved the caecum. There was spillage of faecal material in the abdomen."

Ms Honnery's right leg was amputated above the knee as a result of an infection arising from the initial surgery.

She was readmitted to hospital last month with septic shock and respiratory failure.

A statement of claim details 29 incidences of loss and damage arising from the surgery.

They include "terror and shock from being advised that she had a massive infection and that she was unlikely to survive the repair surgery and that she was at high risk of having one or both legs removed".

She has also suffered major depression, post traumatic stress disorder and a reduced life expectancy.

Ms Honnery was too ill to give evidence in court yesterday. The matter continues in Newcastle District Court tomorrow.