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Our Michigan medical malpractice lawyers handle cases involving injuries resulting from gallbladder surgeries. Victims of surgical errors and mistakes during these procedures do have legal rights.
Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery, also known as Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, is a surgical procedure that removes the gallbladder without having to make a large surgical incision to open the abdominal cavity (open or conventional procedure).
The majority of gallbladder surgeries are now done laparoscopically. This procedure is one of the most frequently performed surgeries in the United States. Unfortunately, improperly performed laparoscopic surgeries occur. Some unskilled doctors are performing this surgery, with terrible consequences for their patients. Also, skilled doctors may cause injuries during this surgery due to medical malpractice. If these errors are not recognized and treated immediately, they can result in serious injuries or death.
There are two main types of gallbladder surgery, the traditional open gallbladder surgery and the laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. The purpose of the procedures are to remove gallstones that have formed in the gallbladder, which cause pain by blocking the flow of bile in the organ.
Each type of surgery has potential risks and complications inherent to the surgery because of the number of ducts, arteries, and vessels contained in the area of the gallbladder. This requires careful attention to every detail and requires that the surgeon identify each duct and artery to make sure that the proper one is being clipped during the procedure. An error in this procedure can lead to significant injuries and even death.
In a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, the surgeon uses a tiny video camera that is inserted through a trocar into the abdominal cavity. The surgeon then performs the procedure while viewing it on a TV monitor. From this, the surgeon carefully performs the surgery through small surgical tools without having to completely open the patient up. The gallbladder is clipped and removed and the patient closed up.
This surgery is now considered "routine," but this does not mean that there are not serious risks during the procedure. Laparoscopic surgery must be performed carefully, by a well-trained surgeon, or terrible consequences can result. An injury that can occur during the procedure is the cutting of the common bile duct or common hepatic duct.
It is essential for the surgeon to be careful in properly identifying the ducts he/she intends to cut and be absolutely certain that he or she is cutting and clipping the proper one. If the bile duct is mistakenly cut during the surgery, bile will seep into the abdominal cavity and this can cause serious injury or death. Also, cutting or lacerating another organ, such as the intestine (bowel) can cause serious injury or death.
An injury that occurs during a gallbladder surgery may give rise to a Michigan medical malpractice lawsuit if the surgeon cuts the wrong artery or organ, such as the intestine. Also, in the event that an injury is caused during the procedure, it is essential that it is promptly identified and repaired so that the patient does not suffer further harm. In these events, the malpractice arises from the failure to identify and correct the problem, rather than from the cutting of the wrong artery or organ.
The injuries suffered from a surgical error in a gallbladder surgery are often significant. The failure to identify an error can often lead to death, giving rise to a Michigan Wrongful Death Lawsuit. To learn more about medical malpractice cases in Michigan, request our FREE BOOK, "The Ultimate Michigan Medical Malpractice Handbook." Or contact us to discuss your case.
