Colorectal and gallbladder surgeries are commonplace procedures performed in hospitals, yet they carry inherent risks of medical negligence leading to patient harm. Surgeons and medical facilities bear responsibility when such malpractice occurs, and this is where our firm steps in to assist.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to negligent colorectal or gallbladder surgery, reach out to the William Pager Law Firm for support. With decades of experience advocating for injured individuals and their families, we comprehend the emotional and physical toll of medical negligence and are adept at securing maximum compensation for our client’s losses, encompassing pain and suffering, loss of income, and wrongful death.
In This Article:
- Top Gall Bladder Medical Malpractice Lawyers
- Are You Suffering from Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Malpractice?
- Gallbladder Surgery Complications
- Were You, a Loved One Injured by a Colorectal, or Gallbladder Surgical Error?
Top Gall Bladder Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Numerous surgical procedures performed in hospitals focus on the gastrointestinal system and the gallbladder, constituting some of the most common interventions. Unfortunately, medical negligence during these procedures can lead to preventable patient injuries. Surgeons and medical facilities bear responsibility for such malpractice, and this is where our firm offers assistance.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to negligent colorectal or gallbladder surgery, do not hesitate to reach out to the William Pager Law Firm. With decades of experience advocating for injured individuals and their families, we empathize with the pain and challenges stemming from medical negligence. Our attorneys possess the expertise to secure maximum compensation for our client’s losses, encompassing pain and suffering, income loss, and wrongful death.
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Are You Suffering from Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Malpractice?
During laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery, a minimally invasive approach compared to open surgery; a surgeon creates a small incision in the abdomen and introduces a tiny camera. This camera insertion allows the surgeon to visualize the gallbladder and adjacent organs without the need for extensive incisions.
The ability to see this area is essential because the bile ducts of the gallbladder are extremely small and a surgeon could easily accidentally cut them without the vantage point of the camera. The bile ducts are also extremely close together and can hold a great deal of bacteria. It the surgeon cuts them accidentally, it could cause a leak and infection that could threaten your life. This is just one of several possible gallbladder surgery complications you could experience resulting in personal injury.
Sepsis and a gallbladder abscess are some other possible gallbladder removal complications besides accidentally cutting the bile ducts and common bile duct leakage causing an infection known as cholangitis.
You might perceive your situation as a clear instance of medical malpractice if you are experiencing complications such as severe abdominal pain following gallbladder surgery, perhaps even multiple complications. However, to pursue damages, you must establish the surgeon’s negligence in court. This entails demonstrating how the surgeon deviated from the accepted standard of care for gallbladder surgery and how their negligent actions directly caused the ongoing injuries. Proving these elements can be particularly challenging without the guidance of an attorney well versed in gallbladder malpractice settlements.
The inaugural laparoscopic gallbladder surgery in the United States occurred in 1987, swiftly becoming the preferred approach for this routine procedure by 1992. Before this technological advancement, patients requiring gallbladder removal underwent invasive surgery, necessitating prolonged hospital stays and extended recovery periods.
Despite the significant improvements brought about by technological innovations in gallbladder removal surgery, grave errors can still transpire. If you find yourself grappling with the repercussions of a botched gallbladder surgery, you maintain the legal entitlement to seek counsel from a medical malpractice attorney.
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Gallbladder Surgery Complications
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is typically a straightforward procedure, often completed in under an hour. It has evolved to the point where hospital stays are no longer necessary, with patients routinely undergoing the surgery on an outpatient basis. While this shift benefits patients by minimizing hospital time, it also presents a challenge: inexperienced surgeons may rush through what they perceive as a routine procedure. What begins as a solution to chronic gallstone pain can quickly turn into a nightmare if complications arise during laparoscopic surgery.
One common complication, often attributed to medical malpractice, involves nicking or cutting the bile ducts of the gallbladder. This error could be avoided with a better grasp of human anatomy. A crucial preventive measure is to conduct a thorough circumferential dissection around the gallbladder before proceeding. This step provides the surgeon with clear visibility and identification of the gallbladder’s arteries, ducts, and other structures.
It is also imperative that the surgeon knows and follows the proper surgical technique. After preparing the patient and identifying each part of the gallbladder, the surgeon should follow these steps in the proper order:
- Elevate the liver by using an atraumatic grasper to lift the edge.
- If the surgeon does not clearly see the gallbladder, he or she should dissect it carefully underneath the liver
- If the surgeon notices that the gallbladder has become inflamed, he or she needs to decompress it before lifting it with surgical tools. After exposing the fundus of the gallbladder, which is the end opposite of the cystic duct connection, the surgeon needs to use a grasper and push the fundus over the liver. The surgeon should move the fundus to the upper right of the abdominal cavity to create additional space between the colon and the liver. This is the location of the pertinent arteries and bile ducts.
- For the fourth step, the surgeon must visualize the Calot’s Triangle of the gallbladder and the CVS, which stands for Critical View of Safety. He or she must pull the gallbladder in the proper direction to expose both of these. If this does not occur, it increases the risk of the surgeon misidentifying parts of the Calot’s Triangle and injuring the hepatic arteries or ducts.
- Next, the surgeon needs to finish the circumferential dissection by cutting directly adjacent to the gallbladder and moving all adhesion to the gallbladder’s neck or base.
- At this point, the surgeon must correctly identify the cystic duct by locating the neck where it connects with the gallbladder. Unfortunately, misidentifying this part is a common type of gallbladder surgery malpractice. The surgeon must move the grasper closer to the gallbladder’s neck, which is opposite of its fundus, in each direction so the surgeon can accurately identify the cystic duct junction. He or she should make additional small incisions if this part of the gallbladder is not clearly visible to avoid making a serious error.
- The next step involves clipping and cutting the dissect cystic artery. The surgeon should reposition the grasper to grab the gallbladder as close as possible to the cystic duct and pull it laterally and anterior to make the cystic artery visible. The surgeon then dissects, cuts, and clips the artery with two clips at its stump. Misidentification of the cystic artery can result in the surgeon cutting blood supply to the hepatic artery that feeds the liver.
- Now the surgeon needs to manipulate the gallbladder away from its bed once the surgical clips are firmly in place. The tools he or she needs to use at this point include cautery scissors, hook cautery or laser. Fortunately, gallbladder malpractice claims originating from this stage of the surgery are rare.
The last step is to remove the gallbladder. Before the surgeon can do this, he or she must check to make sure that no leaking or bleeding is taking place within the ducts or bed. If everything looks clear, the surgeon now lifts the gallbladder from the abdomen and sutures the surgical site. Gallbladder complications are rare at this point as well.
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Were You, a Loved One Injured by a Colorectal, or Gallbladder Surgical Error?
Colorectal and gallbladder (cholecystectomy) surgeries are susceptible to complications when a surgeon neglects to execute the procedure accurately or when a physician fails to address issues arising from the surgery itself, known as iatrogenic injuries.
At the William Pager Law Firm, located in Manhattan, our legal team possesses substantial expertise in handling surgical malpractice cases. We specialize in situations involving:
- The array of septic issues and infections that can result from surgical interventions
- A physician’s failure to diagnose a gastroenterological problem promptly, which can lead to an emergency colostomy
- A surgeon who cut the wrong bile duct can lead to a patient having to undergo a rerouting of the intestinal tract also known as a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy
- Erroneous colon cancer surgery and diverticular surgery
Why Choose The William Pager Law Firm?
For over 23 years, The William Pager Law Firm has distinguished itself through a steadfast commitment to actively listen to and thoroughly understand the experiences of our clients. Our dedication to aggressively seeking just and appropriate compensation for those injured in New York is unwavering.
- Empathetic Listening: We prioritize your recovery, ensuring empathetic listening and maintaining clear, consistent communication to effectively advocate on your behalf.
- Pressure Alleviation: Trust us to lift the burden off your shoulders. We meticulously gather every detail of your case and skillfully negotiate with insurance companies, so you can focus on healing.
- Strategic Advocacy: Our approach to your case and representation is never casual but always intentional and strategic, tailored to meet your needs through our extensive experience.
- Unyielding Commitment: Our drive doesn’t fade with fatigue; we persevere until we achieve the desired outcome.
Concentrate on your recovery; let The William Pager Law Firm handle the rest, ensuring your voice is heard and your rights are protected.