Laparoscopic Gall Bladder Removal

Laparoscopic gall bladder removal is a common procedure – with some common complications.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the medical term for removing a gall bladder and gallstones using only small incisions made in the patient’s abdomen. While meant to be a less invasive way of performing this common procedure, studies show that in close to 10% of surgeries, emergent problems have led to the surgeon needing to switch to the traditional open incision method to finish the removal properly. If you have experienced gallbladder surgery complications, consult with a Missouri medical malpractice attorney. While this is a common procedure it is also one where medical negligence has been found to be high.

Common Surgical Errors

It is believed that the frequency at which gall bladder surgeries are performed is the very reason why so many patients suffer unexpected and adverse side effects afterwards. The most common surgical errors in this procedure are injuries to the common bile duct or to the small intestine. These are normal risks that would not constitute medical malpractice if the surgeon notices the error and repairs it quickly. Where surgeons are being held liable is when the incisions are closed and does not realize a mistake has been made.

Standard of Care

Expert medical witnesses will tell you that the standard of care at the end of gall bladder surgery is to carefully survey the surrounding organs and anatomy for any damage. This is one reason that 10% of surgeries turn into an open incision. When negligence is suspected, it is usually due to the surgeon failing to make that final inspection before closing the incisions.

The inadvertent nicking of the common bile duct or small intestine may cause major complications during the patient’s recovery. After laparoscopic gall bladder surgery, it is not uncommon for a patient to be sent home after only five hours of recovery time, leaving no one to monitor the patient for postoperative symptoms.

Case Study – An Undetected Injury

A Missouri woman was awarded $450,000 by a jury when an injury to her internal organs following the procedure went undetected by both the surgeon and the recovery team. When the symptoms began to appear, she had the presence of mind to return to the hospital quickly, thus minimizing her added pain and suffering.

If this has recently happened to you or a family member, then it is your right to pursue compensation for the additional surgery required to repair the damage.  Speak with a qualified medical malpractice attorney about your options for filing a medical malpractice claim and get on the path to compensation for your additional pain and suffering. Call the Zevan and Davidson Law Firm at (314) 588-7200 for a case evaluation.