While most gallbladder surgeries proceed without problems, some result in very serious complications.
The gallbladder is a sac in the human body that contains and releases bile. The human body depends on bile to break down fats that are contained in the body. In the process of breaking down fats, gallstones are sometimes formed. Gallstones are solidified material that block the flow of bile. A gallbladder commonly requires surgical removal through a procedure called an open cholecystectomy. After being placed under anesthesia, a surgeon makes an incision under a person’s ribs and moves the liver so that the gallbladder can be extracted. Most gallbladder surgeries involve a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which is a minimally invasive procedure. While most gallbladder surgeries proceed without problems, some result in people facing very serious complications. If you have been impacted by medical malpractice that arose during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, speak with a seasoned medical malpractice attorney who can fight for the compensation you deserve.
The Dangers of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
During a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a surgeon makes a small incision in a person’s abdomen and places a hollow tube inside the person’s body. A video camera is then slowly fed into this tube. During the procedure, more tubes are inserted into other tiny incisions to help ducts as well as vessels. The person’s gallbladder is then extracted through the incision. This procedure is minimally invasive and does not take much time to recover from. Patients often only spend several hours or one day in the hospital after the procedure. One of the most common errors that occurs during this procedure is accidentally cutting the common bile duct, which empties bile from a person’s liver into their small intestine. Leaks of this nature can cause serious medical complications. If the damage cannot be repaired, a person might require tubes to be permanently placed in their body to drain bile. While cutting a bile duct is a risk of some procedures, other times it might be a sign that a person’s surgeon failed to adhere to the standard of care. Many times, it is not the damage that a patient faces that comprise medical malpractice but instead the complications that are associated with the procedure and a medical professional’s failure to provide treatment.
Errors Associated with Trocars
Trocars are small surgical instruments that are used to open space and remove fluid. Trocars must be used with the utmost care because failure to properly use a trocar can result in significant damage to a person. Errors associated with trocars occur more during laparoscopic cholecystectomies than any other procedure.
Speak with a Seasoned Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you have been harmed as the result of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, you should obtain the assistance of a seasoned medical malpractice as soon as possible. At The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan, we have significant experience fighting for the compensation that people deserve. For 35 years, we have been helping the victims of medical malpractice and their loved ones rebuild after devastating injuries. Contact our law office today for assistance.
We offer a free, no-obligation legal consultation to help you understand your rights and the value of your case.
Our medical malpractice trial lawyers assist clients throughout all of Massachusetts including, but not limited to, those in the following counties, cities and towns: Plymouth County, Brockton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Marshfield, Hingham, Duxbury, Wareham, Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanson, Holbrook, Middleborough; Norfolk County including Quincy, Stoughton, Dedham, Weymouth, Braintree, Avon, Holbrook, Randolph, Canton, Sharon, Brookline, Franklin; Bristol County including New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Westport, Dartmouth, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham, Lakeville, Norton; Cape Cod, Hyannis, Falmouth, Barnstable and the Greater Boston area including Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Revere, Dorchester, Roxbury.
