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Laparoscopic
Gallbladder Surgery
Risks and Complications
Overview
Because the organs and ducts involved in this surgery
are small and close together, and because the surgeon
is working by television camera rather than by direct
site and direct contact, there are increased risks associated
with laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.
Laparoscopic
surgery must be performed expertly, slowly, and carefully,
by a well-trained surgeon, or terrible consequences
can result. The most frequent injury that occurs during
the procedure is the cutting of the common bile or common
hepatic duct. Since each person's anatomy is different,
it is essential for the surgeon to be careful in properly
identifying the ducts he/she intends to cut.
Despite
the dire consequences of this error, it is all too common,
due in large part to the very thin and small ducts involved
and due to their proximity to each other. However, if
the bile duct is mistakenly cut or nicked during the
surgery, bile will seep into the abdominal cavity and
poison the patient.
The
location of the injury to the common bile duct determines
in large measure the seriousness of the injury and the
probability of successful repair. The "higher"
the laceration occurs, the worse the prognosis.
The challenge in performing laparoscopic gallbladder
surgery correctly is that the surgeon
must be able to properly identify each duct on the television
camera, and be absolutely certain that he or she is
cutting and clipping the proper one.
The
gallbladder is connected to the common bile duct through
the cystic duct. Mistakenly cutting, clipping or nicking
the common bile duct rather than the cystic duct can
lead to dire consequences, as can cutting or nicking
other organs and/or improperly attaching the clips.
Performed
by a properly trained surgeon, laparoscopic gallbladder
surgery is a safe procedure. However, as one of the
most commonly performed surgeries in our country, this
procedure has become big business, and sometimes unskilled
doctors undertake the procedure without proper experience
and training, putting their patients at risk and causing
serious harm.
Laparoscopic
Gallbladder Surgery Complications
Improperly
performed laparoscopic gallbladder surgery can lead
to bile leakage, infection, bile peritonitis, abscess
and even death. In the event of a mistake or nicking
of the common bile duct, bile may back up into the bloodstream
causing jaundice, or it may leak out into the abdominal
cavity.
Biliary
duct injuries caused by surgeons can be devastating
— and sometimes fatal — to patients who
undergo gallbladder surgery.
In addition, if the common bile duct is damaged during
the surgery, subsequent corrective surgery may be needed
to correct strictures or narrowing of the duct, and
still the patient may suffer permanent pain and/or digestive
problems. When bile cannot flow through to the intestines,
raised liver enzymes, jaundice and severe pain can result.
Another
problem after injury is cholangitis, an infection or
inflammation of the bile ducts, causing bacteria and
other waste products in the small intestine to flow
upward causing infection. Cholangitis can be life
threatening if not treated.
Symptoms
Initially, patients may only notice that they’re
not feeling well, but eventually the patient will become
jaundiced and the liver will stop functioning
Leakage
of bile eventually causes symptoms of pain and breathing
difficulties. Because of the serious consequences of
a bile leak, which poisons the body and can cause death,
any such symptoms following surgery need to be promptly
investigated. Discharging a patient with any of these
symptoms may be medically negligent.
An
even more serious situation may be symptoms that do
not show up immediately. Bile peritonitis (bile leaking
into the abdominal cavity) and/or infection can lead
to organ failure and even death, and must be acted upon
immediately when the symptoms first appear. This is
a situation where there should be no waiting. Immediate
action should be taken.
The
biggest risk in laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is
having an untrained surgeon. This became such
a problem on the national level, that the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) convened a conference to discuss the
problem. In addition, many papers, articles and studies
have also been written about the situation.
Read
More
The
Procedure
I Risks
& Consequences
I Precautions
I Studies
For
a free, no-obligation consultation about your laparoscopic
gallbladder surgery case and the complications, treatment
or possible medical malpractice claims, lawsuits or
settlements, contact one of our laparoscopic
gallbladder surgery attorneys.
The content provided on this website
about laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is provided by
the laparoscopic gallbladder surgery
attorneys at the Trief & Olk law firm. It is
intended for informational purposes only and should
not be taken as formal legal advice nor does the use
of this web site constitute a client attorney relationship.
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