Gallbladder surgery is a common procedure, but several potential complications can arise. Problems can include infection, bleeding, and damage to the bile ducts or other nearby organs. There is also a risk of developing an internal hernia or bile leak due to improper suturing during the operation.
Additionally, gallbladder removal can lead to changes in digestion as the gallbladder is responsible for storing and releasing bile into the digestive system. In rare cases, patients may experience respiratory distress due to anesthesia-related complications.
Did you have serious complications after removing your gallbladder during a surgical procedure? The medical malpractice lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, legally advocate for patients who have experienced gallbladder surgery complications.
Contact a gallbladder surgery error lawyer (888) 424-5757 or use the contact form to schedule a free consultation to discuss your potential gallbladder surgery malpractice lawsuit.
All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
What Is the Gallbladder’s Function?
The gallbladder is an important organ located below the liver that stores bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. When you eat something difficult to digest, the gallbladder helps the digestive process by squirting a little bile into your digestive tract.
Once you have your gallbladder removed, bile will still be produced by the liver but will flow directly into the small intestine instead of being stored in the gallbladder organ.
What Is Gallbladder Surgery Used For?
The unique surgery, also known as cholecystectomy, is a standard procedure used to treat gallstones and the complications they cause. The small organ is located in the upper right side of the abdomen that collects and stores bile, a digestive fluid produced in the liver.
A gallbladder surgery would remove the organ and allow the liver to process bile directly into the biliary tree.
When gallstones form in the organ, they can cause inflammation, bile leak, or blockages, leading to severe pain and other symptoms.
Gallbladder surgery can happen as an open surgery or laparoscopic. The latter is the most common form, which involves making small incisions in the abdomen and inserting thin, hollow tubes with a laparoscope and other surgical tools.
During the procedure, the surgeon will detach and remove the small organ before closing up the small incisions. The entire procedure usually takes 1-2 hours to complete. Gallbladder surgery recovery time varies depending on individual circumstances.
Surgery Due to Gallstones
Gallstones are a common medical issue that can cause pain and other troubling symptoms. Surgery is often necessary to remove the gallbladder if these symptoms occur, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery is routine.
However, inexperienced surgeons may rush through the process and cause complications. To avoid a botched gallbladder surgery, surgeons must take extra care to correctly identify arteries, bile ducts, and other structures during the procedure.
It includes elevating the liver, decompressing any inflammation before lifting with surgical tools, pushing the fundus over the liver to create space between the colon and liver, visualizing Calot’s Triangle, and using the technique critical view of safety (CVS) to avoid misidentifying parts of the gallbladder, and correctly identifying the cystic duct by locating its neck where it connects with the gallbladder.
If the surgeon fails to follow these guidelines, there will certainly be complications after the gallbladder removal surgery.
Gallbladder Surgery Complications
Gallbladder surgery is a standard procedure, but it carries the risk of complications. To avoid medical negligence, surgeons must follow proper techniques and correctly identify all parts of the small organ.
The surgeon must correctly identify the cystic duct by locating its neck where it connects with the small organ. Once identified, they must clip and cut the dissected cystic artery without cutting off blood supply to the hepatic artery that feeds into the liver.
Proper surgical techniques should be followed, including elevating the liver with an atraumatic grasper and decompressing the inflamed organ before lifting it with surgical tools. Now the surgeon needs to manipulate the gallbladder away from its bed once the surgical clips are firmly in place.
In addition to getting cut, the common bile duct may also get pinched or burned. Any of these injuries can have serious, even fatal, consequences. Bile duct injuries may also occur due to improper cystic duct identification or if the surgeon cuts too deep.
Other complications include bleeding, infection, and damage to other organs.
Gallbladder Surgery Gone Bad
Gallbladder surgery is common, but it can be dangerous if not performed correctly. In some cases, patients can suffer serious injury due to negligence.
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is routine, but inexperienced surgeons may rush through it and cause complications.
To avoid malpractice lawsuits, surgeons should complete a circumferential dissection to identify all structures since the bile ducts are a significant source of bacteria that can leak into the abdominal cavity and cause a life-threatening infection if the surgeon severs the bile duct during surgery.
Additionally, most malpractice claims from gallbladder surgery occur when a surgeon doesn’t know where the biliary ducts are on a patient and cuts them by accident.
Inexperienced surgeons may rush through the procedure and cause complications such as accidental cutting of bile ducts, sepsis, and gallbladder abscess. To avoid medical malpractice claims, surgeons must adhere to the accepted standard of care when performing laparoscopic surgery.
Gallbladder Removal Surgery Risks
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is a standard procedure that carries certain risks. Accidental cuts are possible due to the use of cutting tools, and bile duct injuries may occur if the area is not seen clearly.
Additionally, they must correctly identify and clip off the cystic artery with two clips at its stump to prevent cutting off blood supply to the liver. All of these steps should be taken care of by experienced surgeons to reduce any potential risks associated with gallbladder surgery.
Did You Have Your Gallbladder Removed? Surgical Errors Putting You at Risk
Surgical errors can have severe consequences for patients. In some cases, these errors can lead to bile duct injuries, reducing the long-term quality of life and even resulting in death. It is essential to understand the reconstructive strategies that are available to help improve prognosis after a surgical error has occurred.
Medical malpractice cases involve analyzing hundreds or thousands of pages of data and medical records, and common claims include medication errors, defective pharmaceutical drugs, and delayed diagnosis lawsuits.
Contact a gallbladder malpractice lawyer for assistance if you believe you may have been the victim of a surgical error or another medical malpractice claim.
An experienced attorney will be able to review your case and provide advice on how best to proceed with a potential claim. They will also be able to explain the legal process involved in filing a medical malpractice lawsuit and what damages may be available if successful.
Organ and Bile Duct Injury Symptoms from a Botched Gallbladder Surgery
Having your gallbladder removed through surgery is common, but it can be dangerous if not done correctly. Errors during surgical procedures can lead to severe injury and long-term complications. Symptoms of a botched gallbladder surgery may include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, swelling, discomfort, and jaundice.
These symptoms may not appear immediately after laparoscopic surgery but can develop several weeks or months later. The first sign that something might be wrong is if you don’t recover from surgery quickly.
It might happen shortly after discharge. The patient returns to the emergency room with abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, and fever.
How to Recognize Injury When Removing the Gallbladder
A relatively minor error during laparoscopic cholecystectomy could be corrected if the procedure was converted to an open cholecystectomy; however, an inattentive surgeon may not recognize this need.
If a surgeon violated his duty of care to the patient during and after the procedure, it could lead to infection, bowel perforation, or injury to the hepatic duct or artery. Bile duct injuries and other injuries during laparoscopic gallbladder removal are rare, occurring in about 1 out of a thousand procedures.
If you have been injured during gallbladder removal, contact our law firm to explore your options for a medical malpractice case.
Examples of Medical Malpractice in Gallbladder Surgery
Medical malpractice is a serious issue that can have devastating consequences for patients. In the case of gallbladder surgery, malpractice occurs when a doctor:
- Fails to address, respond to, or fix patient complaints after surgery
- Uses unsterilized or dirty tools during the procedure
- Does not use proper surgical techniques
In some cases, medical malpractice can happen when a surgeon doesn’t know where the biliary ducts are and cuts them by accident.
Victims of medical malpractice should seek legal counsel to get the compensation they deserve. An experienced attorney can review your case and determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit.
Personal injury lawyers will also be able to advise you on how best to proceed with your case and ensure that you receive fair compensation for medical expenses, pain, and suffering.
What if You Were Injured During Gallbladder Removal
Gallbladder removal is a common surgery in the US, with 90% of removals being laparoscopic. Although it is generally a safe procedure, there is still a risk of injury during gallbladder removal.
Bile duct injuries and other injuries during laparoscopic gallbladder removal are rare, occurring in about one out of a thousand procedures.
Occasionally, a doctor may make an error that results in injury to the patient. If you or a loved one were injured during gallbladder removal, it is essential to understand your rights and potential legal options.
How Much Is the Average Medical Malpractice Settlement for Gallbladder Surgery?
Common medical conditions associated with gallbladder surgery malpractice include gastrointestinal complications, infections, bile leakage, jaundice and abscess, cholangitis, and fatality. The average payout in gallbladder malpractice settlements is over $250,000.
You may be entitled to compensation if you or a loved one has been severely harmed during a gallbladder surgery due to negligence or malpractice.
Speaking with an experienced attorney about your legal options for seeking appropriate compensation is essential. An attorney will be able to review the details of your case and recover compensation for your medical bills, pain, and suffering.
Hire a Gallbladder Surgery Error Lawyer
Do you suspect that you or a loved one may have been the victim of gallbladder surgery malpractice? Our medical malpractice lawyers specialize in gallbladder removal surgery mistake cases.
Our Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC legal team can help you determine if your case meets the legal requirements for a successful claim. We will be able to handle the complex process of filing a lawsuit.
We provide knowledgeable counsel about what damages may be available and assist in negotiating with insurance companies or other parties involved when filing malpractice cases and wrongful death lawsuits.
Contact our personal injury law firm at (888) 424-5757, use the contact form for additional information or schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
