Less invasive laparoscopic gallbladder surgery has record of serious medical mistakes
Removal of the gallbladder is a common surgery (also known as cholecystectomy) and is either performed as an “open” surgery where a surgeon removes the gallbladder through a large incision, or as a less invasive “laparoscopic” procedure. During laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, a tiny video camera and specialized surgical tools are inserted through four small incisions in the abdomen. The procedure is very common, but serious errors are possible when proper care is not taken by the surgeon when operating in this very tight space.
“Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is a less invasive outpatient surgery with a faster recovery than open gallbladder surgery, however it still carries grave risks when the standard of care is not followed by the surgeon to properly identify nearby anatomy.”
— Adam Satin, Medical Malpractice Attorney
Possible surgical errors during gallbladder surgery
While the risks are low, it is extremely important that the surgeon properly identifies the gallbladder and closely situated anatomy such as bile duct and blood vessels to avoid possibility of cutting, perforating or nicking any other areas with the surgical tools while removing the gallbladder. Doing so can result in symptoms of pain and stomach problems, subsequent infection and the need for a second surgery to correct the problems. If the botched surgery is not diagnosed in time it can lead to severe complications and even death.
Injuries to adjacent anatomy during gallbladder removal can include the:
- bile duct
- hepatic duct
- intestines
- bowel
- blood vessels.
- bile leakage into abdomen
- infection
- additional invasive surgery
- blood loss and organ damage
- unseen complications.
What to do if you had gallbladder surgery complications
If you believe you may have complications resulting from laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, you should seek immediate medical attention.
If indeed you suffered injuries related to gallbladder surgery, and required additional medical care, there may have been negligence in the performance of your surgery and you may have a valid medical malpractice claim.
Recent verdicts and settlements
Below are a few of Lubin & Meyer's gallbladder medical malpractice lawsuits that serve as illustrative examples the types of possible injuries.
- $1 Million Settlement - Gallbladder Surgery Mistakes - An 84-year-old woman suffered a transected hepatic artery and portal vein, and injury to her common bile duct during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. She sustained significant injuries requiring extensive additional surgical and medical care. (read more)
- $1 Million Settlement - Gallbladder Surgical Error - A 75-year-old woman dies after surgery from inadvertent transection and ligation of the blood supply to her liver during an elective gallbladder removal. (read more)
- $868,828 Jury Verdict in Gallbladder Removal Surgery - Failure to obtain the so-called Critical View of Safety, the standard approach to identifying correct structures to be cut, leads to transection of the bile duct requiring invasive tests and additional major surgery. (read more)
Questions about a possible medical malpractice case?
If you have any questions about the quality of care you received, please do not hesitate to call us for a free case evaluation. We represent patients in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. There is no fee to review your case, and you do not pay us unless we recovery money for you.
View our main website at LubinandMeyer.com - Lubin & Meyer PC - New England's Leader in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Law
