Appendectomy Surgery

Our Michigan medical malpractice lawyers represent patients like you who have suffered injuries due to medical mistakes made by doctors, nurses, and hospitals. Many of these injuries are very serious, often requiring extensive medical treatment and the need for additional surgeries. When a medical error causes a death, it can give rise to a Michigan wrongful death lawsuit.

There are risks involved in every medical procedure and not all poor results are due to medical malpractice. A lawsuit can only be filed when there is a medical error or mistake that caused your injury.

Appendectomy Procedure

An appendicectomy (or appendectomy) is the surgical removal of the vermiform appendix. This procedure is normally performed as an emergency procedure, when the patient is suffering from acute appendicitis. In the absence of surgical facilities, intravenous antibiotics are used to delay or avoid the onset of sepsis; it is now recognized that many cases will resolve when treated non-operatively. In some cases the appendicitis resolves completely; more often, an inflammatory mass forms around the appendix. This is a relative contraindication to surgery.

Appendectomy may be performed laparoscopically (this is called minimally invasive surgery) or as an open operation. Laparoscopy is often used if the diagnosis is in doubt, or if it is desirable to hide the scars in the umbilicus or in the pubic hair line. Recovery may be a little quicker with laparoscopic surgery; the procedure is more expensive and resource-intensive than open surgery and generally takes a little longer, with the (low in most patients) additional risks associated with pneumoperitoneum (inflating the abdomen with gas). Advanced pelvic sepsis occasionally requires a lower midline laparotomy.

Risks of Appendectomy Procedures

The most common risks of an Appendectomy procedure are:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Intra-abdominal abscess
• Leakage from the colon requiring colostomy
• Hernia in the incision

Although these are common risks, they may also be the result of medical negligence. Our experience medical malpractice lawyers will review your medical chart and determine whether your injury was the result of negligent treatment or just a normal risk or complication of your procedure.

Contact a Michigan Appendectomy Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you suspect that you or a family member have been the victim of medical malpractice from an appendectomy sugery, you should contact our office immediately to discuss your case. There are strict time limitations for filing medical malpractice cases in Michigan and if you wait too long, your case may be barred forever. Call us now at (800) 606-1717.

You should also request our FREE BOOK, "The Ultimate Michigan Medical Malpractice Handbook, " which explains the legal process in Michigan and what must be proven to win your case. We will send out the book immediately to you.