Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is less invasive than traditional gallbladder surgery. For patients, it can mean less pain and a much shorter recovery period. When everything goes well, the technique is a big improvement over open gallbladder surgery. However, it requires a highly trained, experienced, and skilled surgeon. The most common mistake is a very easy one to make and the results can be catastrophic.
Understanding Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery uses a tiny camera. This allows your surgeon to work with small incisions and still be able to see what he is doing. Traditional or open gallbladder surgery requires a very large incision and your liver has to be moved out of the way to give the surgeon access to the surgery site.
Complications of Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Error
The most common mistake made in laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is cutting of the wrong duct. Your surgeon is supposed to cut the cystic duct, but it is very easy to cut the common bile duct instead. Complications of laparoscopic gallbladder surgery malpractice can include:
- Bile leakage
- Bile peritonitis
- Infection
- Abscess
- Jaundice
- Digestive problems
- Chronic pain
- Cholangitis
- Need for more surgeries
- Death
Why Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Malpractice Occurs
Due to its big advantages over traditional gallbladder surgery, laparoscopic gallbladder surgery has been become very popular. It is the technique most patients will choose if given the option. That makes it a money-making procedure. Failure to offer the technique can also mean losing patients to surgeons who do offer it.
The unfortunate result of this situation is that undertrained and under-skilled surgeons offer the procedure when they should not. Patients have no real way of knowing if their surgeon is truly qualified to perform this difficult and precise procedure. There are questions you can ask, to give yourself a better chance of working with a qualified surgeon, but your doctor may simply lie to you and you are definitely not responsible for determining your surgeon’s skill level.
When you face a legal problem, your best source for help is a capable attorney. You want to make sure the lawyer or law firm you hire is qualified to represent you with your particular problem. The law can be a very complicated matter. You don’t have to go it alone. Find the right attorney for you! If you believe that your injury is the result of a surgical mistake, please contact us call us today at 1-877-LOSS RECOVER (567-7732)!