Missouri Medical Malpractice: Bile Duct Cuts and Tears

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a less invasive option for gallbladder removal.

Complications of gallbladder surgery.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy involves making small incisions on the anatomical attachments of the gallbladder through the use of laparoscopic techniques, doing away with the need to open the abdominal cavity. However, it is important that the surgeon performing the procedure should have adequate experience and expertise, otherwise, numerous complications such as bile duct cuts can occur. It could be fatal if this injury results in leakage of bile into the abdominal cavity. You may need to seek the advice of a competent Missouri medical malpractice lawyer if you or a loved one has suffered this type of injury.

Laparoscopic Surgery for Gallbladder Removal

The gallbladder is a small organ or vessel connected to the liver. It helps in the storage and release of bile produced by the liver, aiding in fat breakdown. When hard deposits from substances in the bile or gallstones develop, a patient may be required to have a cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery. Laparoscopic methods are utilized in about nine out of every ten gallbladder removal surgeries. A small incision is made in the abdomen of a patient by a surgeon carrying out this procedure. Tiny surgical tools are guided through the body, aided by a mini video camera during the surgery. To perform this procedure, the surgeon needs to have proper training and experience to prevent costly errors while making cuts and clips to arteries and ducts.

Gallbladder Removal Injuries

The nature of a laparoscopic surgery and the organs it affects makes it a very risky procedure. For example, a common bile or hepatic duct may be mistakenly cut by a surgeon. It is of utmost importance for the medical professional to exercise due diligence and caution in identifying portions that are to be cut. Bile can leak into the abdominal cavity if the common bile duct connecting the gallbladder and cystic duct is cut. This could have grave consequences on the affected patient. Organs near the gallbladder such as the intestine are also at risk of being mistakenly cut. Inappropriate clipping of the cystic duct could also lead to serious injuries. Therefore, bile leakage, bile peritonitis abscess, infection, permanent pain, digestive issues, and even death are possible consequences of badly executed laparoscopic gallbladder surgeries.

Infections from Laparoscopic Surgery

A serious infection that could result from an ineffective laparoscopic surgery is cholangitis. This condition is usually the result of a bile duct injury. If this inflammation of the bile ducts is allowed to turn septic without proper medical attention, it could lead to death. Cholangitis symptoms include jaundice, fever, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and dark urine.

You should not suffer in silence if you have suffered a cut bile duct injury due to the negligence of a surgeon. Contact Zevan and Davidson Law Firm at (314) 588-7200 for a free consultation.

Photo credit: Tim Samoff via Flickr