Claiming For Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Complications
Like any surgical procedure, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy has a number of possible risks. If a complication does arise, this must be handled with the correct level of medical expertise. If there is a failure to do so and a patient suffers harm, there could be grounds for a compensation claim.
What is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
A laparoscopic cholecystectomy is when the gallbladder is removed via keyhole surgery. The gallbladder might need to be removed if someone has gallstones which are causing significant pain and discomfort.
Gallstones can be treated with non-surgical methods, but these are not particularly effective and only succeed in one in 10 cases. As you can live perfectly well without the gallbladder, it can be easier to simply have it removed if gallstones are a problem.
Complications of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Like all surgical procedures, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy does carry certain risks, including:-
- Infection
- Complications from the general anaesthetic
- Bleeding
- Bile duct injuries
- Bile leakage
- Injury to the internal organs
- Post-cholecystectomy syndrome
Some of the aforementioned complications can be very troubling if not diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion. Bile duct injuries and internal organ damage are particularly worrying and must be repaired as soon as possible if a patient is going to avoid harm.
When can you claim for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
Should the surgeon accidentally nick the bile duct or an internal organ, it will not necessarily be considered negligent. Indeed, the bile duct, bowel and small intestine all lie very close to the gallbladder and the surgeon cannot always avoid inflicting a degree of damage. If this does happen, the injury must be spotted and repaired without delay – certainly before the end of the operation.
But unfortunately the surgical team do not always realise that an injury has been sustained and send a patient back to the recovery ward. The patient will soon become extremely unwell, and may develop fatal complications if the problem is not detected in time.
If the surgical team does not recognise and repair a bile duct injury or internal organ damage, and this causes a patient further pain and suffering, it will be possible to pursue a medical negligence claim.
Claiming for gallbladder surgery complications
To find out more about claiming for complications sustained as a result of gallbladder surgery, you need to speak to a solicitor who specialises in medical negligence claims. This will allow you to establish whether or not you could be entitled to compensation for the terrible damage you have been caused.
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