Can I Claim Compensation for a Bile Duct Injury?
Bile duct injuries are a known but potentially catastrophic risk of gallbladder surgery. They are not necessarily a cause for a compensation claim but inadequate management of such an injury may well be.
Bile duct injury during a cholecystectomy
Gallbladder removal (or a cholecystectomy) to resolve the problem of gallstones, is a common operation in the UK with over 60,000 procedures taking place each year.
Such surgery is often carried out via a laparotomy (keyhole surgery) and, given the complexity of the abdominal anatomy, it is not surprising that structures around the gallbladder such as the bile duct are sometimes damaged during the procedure. In fact, the number of bile duct injuries occurring seems to have increased with the increasing use of keyhole surgery for this common medical problem.
In the course of surgery, the bile duct may become squashed, blocked or it may be accidentally cut.
Managing a bile duct injury
This is potentially a problem as it could allow bile to build up in the bile duct, causing jaundice, or to leak from the bile duct into the abdomen and cause infection. Untreated, this problem can escalate, causing peritonitis if the lining of the abdomen becomes infected, or sepsis which can be life-threatening.
A bile duct injury is not necessarily a justification for a compensation claim but a failure to diagnose and repair such an injury, leading to long-term problems for the patient may well be.
The key to the resolution of a bile duct injury is the quality of the management of any such injury. Given the possible health risks associated with a bile duct injury, prompt, skilled and effective management of either an incision or a compression of the bile duct needs to be undertaken.
- Ideally, any injury should be diagnosed at the time
- Any leakage should be resolved
- Any blockage should be removed or resolved
- Any incision should be repaired
- Any infection should be treated promptly
A skilled medical professional is crucial to the success of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal). A bile duct injury is less likely to occur where a skilled surgeon is involved and any repair is more likely to receive a successful resolution. Where the surgeon is inexperienced in the technique or the complex anatomy of the biliary duct, there is an increased risk of injury and failed management.
Compensation claims
A compensation claim may be an appropriate course of action when the management of a bile duct injury fails to resolve the problem in a timely manner, leaving the patient with significant, long-term problems. The on-going impact of peritonitis and sepsis, for example, can leave the patient disabled both physically and psychologically, suffering from weakness, blindness, mobility problems and kidney problems.
Speak to a solicitor
Contact us to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor if you or a loved one are suffering the impact of a mismanaged bile duct injury.
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