Peritonitis After Gallbladder Operation
Injury to the common bile duct during a gallbladder operation can allow bile to leak into the abdominal space and cause peritonitis. Without swift management, this condition can lead to sepsis and the patient has a high risk of mortality.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Increasingly, the operation of choice for gallstones is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This is where the gallbladder is removed through what is otherwise called keyhole surgery rather than open surgery. Gallstones can obstruct the functioning of the gallbladder and it is sometimes considered necessary to remove the gallbladder to solve the problem.
It is a common and usually straight-forward operation. Occasionally, however, one of the surrounding abdominal structures can be damaged in the process and, if the damage is not identified and resolved promptly, the patient can become extremely unwell.
Bile Duct Injury (BDI)
The function of the gallbladder is to store bile which is made in the liver and used by the body to assist in the processing of substances in the small intestine. The gallbladder is connected to the small intestine by the common bile duct, through which the bile passes on its way to the digestive tract. The bile duct is, therefore, very close to the gallbladder and can be damaged during surgery.
If the bile duct is perforated or cut, its contents can leak into the abdomen where the liver, bowel and associated organs are found. The leakage of bile can thus cause bile peritonitis, or inflammation of the lining of the abdomen. Untreated, the condition can quickly lead to multiple organ failure and threaten the life of the patient.
Symptoms of BDI
Signs that a patient may have suffered a bile duct injury (BDI) could include the following:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Severe abdominal pain
- Fatigue
Evidence of a bile leak requires immediate action whether that is observed during the course of the operation or subsequently.
Laparoscopic surgery has significant benefits in that the patient is likely to be able to leave hospital more quickly, recover more quickly and be left with less scarring. However, inadequate experience of the technique or limited field of vision of the interior of the abdomen can lead to misidentification of structures and accidental injury.
Medical negligence
Damaging the bile duct during a cholecystectomy is not necessarily regarded as negligent although it might be considered to have been where the surgeon misidentified the organs of the abdomen or continued with a laparoscopic approach despite a limited field of vision.
However, a failure to respond appropriately to a bile leak may be considered to have been negligent and where the patient subsequently suffers significant, long-term damage, may warrant a claim for compensation.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one have suffered significant damage due to a failure to deal with a bile duct injury, contact us to discuss your experience with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
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