Bile Duct Damage
If a patient suffers an injury to the bile duct during surgery to remove the gallbladder, it is not necessarily an indication of negligence. Failing to repair the damage may well be.
The problem with the bile duct
The anatomy of the gallbladder and bile duct is not always straightforward and the surrounding structures can obscure the surgeon's access. This appears to be a greater problem when the surgeon is undertaking laparoscopic or 'keyhole' surgery.
In these circumstances, it is possible for the bile duct, carrying bile from the liver to the small intestine, to be cut or burned causing it to leak or malfunction.
Unobserved and unrepaired, this damage can quickly cause the patient to become seriously unwell, risking the development of peritonitis and sepsis. In vulnerable patients, or where treatment is delayed for too long, the patient may die.
Bile duct blockage
If the bile duct has become blocked due to damage, it may mean that it can no longer carry the bile from the liver to the intestine. This can lead to serious problems with the liver and the patient may start to become jaundiced (yellow) in colour. This may also cause problems with the digestive system as it is being deprived of bile.
Spotting the problem
Given that a bile duct injury (BDI) is not an uncommon occurrence, it would not be unreasonable to expect the surgeon to be particularly alert to the possibility that such an injury might have occurred. A repair could then be carried out.
Additionally, if a patient has recently undergone a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), they should be closely monitored for any symptoms which might suggest that a bile duct injury has occurred and a specialist should be consulted as a matter of emergency.
Symptoms which might indicate the presence of a bile leak into the abdomen include the following:
- Extreme pain in the abdomen
- Nausea and vomiting
- A high temperature
Medical negligence
When a bile duct injury is not diagnosed, the consequences can be serious. A failure to recognise that damage of some sort has occurred could be regarded as a substandard quality of care.
Where the patient suffers long-term, debilitating consequences, it may even be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Contact us today if you or a loved one are suffering with the severe effects of a failure to respond to a bile duct injury.
Call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
Make An Enquiry
Why Choose Us
- Specialist medical negligence solicitors
- Free initial enquiries
- No win, no fee available
Reviews
"I would like to say a big thank you to you for making this whole process easy and relatively painless. You kept me informed throughout and you were always polite and courteous in all forms of communication. I would not hesitate to recommend you to friends and family, so a really big thank you and I wish you all the best in the future."
Mr A.
Our Expertise
Helping Clients Across England & Wales
Free Medical Negligence Guide
'7 Questions You Must Ask Before Choosing A Medical Negligence Solicitor'