FDA Safety Communication – ERCP Duodenoscopes Design May Impede Effective Cleaning

The FDA recently issued an FDA Safety Communication alerting medical care providers that ERCP duodenoscopes may be the exposing their patients to dangerous, hard to treat infections, due to difficulty cleaning the duodenoscopes between procedures. The Communication states that “the complex design of the ERCP endoscopes (also called duodenoscopes) may impede effective reprocesseing.” “Reprocessing” refers to the process under which the duodenoscopes are prepared to be used for the next procedure. The Communication cautions that even when medical care providers fully comply with the reprocessing instructions, there patients may be exposed to harmful multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

Since many patients suffering from injuries caused during laparoscopic cholecystectomy undergo ERCP procedures, this is of particular concern to Trief & Olk and our clients. If you plan to undergo an ERCP, the FDA recommends (1) discussing the benefits and risks of procedures using duodenoscopes with your physician, and (2) asking your doctor what to expect following the procedure and when to seek medical attention. The FDA cautions that for most patients, the benefits of ERCP outweigh the risks of infection.

Roux-en-Y Reconstruction for Lap Choly Injuries During Gallbladder Surgery

One of the more common laparoscopic cholecystectomy repairs Trief & Olk has encountered due to medical malpractice is a surgery known as a Roux-en-Y reconstruction, or simply a Roux-en-Y. During a Roux-en-Y, the hepatic or biliary duct is connected directly to the small intestines. The purpose is to compensate for the inability for bile to flow freely due to biliary duct injury during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A Roux-en-Y does this by creating a new passageway from which bile can drain directly from your liver or remnant ducts to your small intestines.

If a Roux-en-Y is part of your recovery plan, it is important to appreciate and discuss with your doctor the long term ramifications of the procedure. Most Roux-en-Y patients require regular monitoring to make sure that the Roux-en-Y and ducts do not stricture, i.e., tighten and close, preventing the free flow of bile. Your doctor will likely elect to perform a liver function test as the first step in identifying a stricture. If your numbers are elevated, other diagnostic exams may be performed including additional blood work and a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (or MRCP), which allows the doctor to obtain a non-invasive view of the biliary system.

If strictures develop, there are various procedures that may be performed to reopen the Roux-en-Y connection, including an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (or ERCP), a procedure which combines upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and x-rays to treat problems of the bile and pancreatic ducts. During the ERCP, the doctor may try to introduce a thin tube into the obstructed duct (i.e,, cannulate the duct), place a stent in the dilating duct, or even perform a balloon angioplasty to open any closed ducts. If the strictures are reoccurring, treatment may be significant and ongoing for the rest of the patient’s life.

Since a Roux-en-Y procedure usually involves long-term follow-up monitoring or care, patients who require a Roux-en-Y after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy often suffer significant future pain and suffering and medical expenses that should be considered as part of any medical malpractice laparoscopic cholecystectomy action, even when the strictures have yet to develop. It is also important to find an attorney who understands the science and medicine behind these types of injuries and has the resources to fully litigate your claims, including access to expert physicians who can explain to a jury both the malpractice committed by the surgeon performing your laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the short and long term medical care required to address the issues created during the initial surgery.

Trief & Olk Reaches Sizeable Settlement in New Jersey Lap Choly Claim

Trief & Olk recently reached a settlement of $875,000 in a medical malpractice laparoscopic cholecystectomy (“lap choly”) claim in Passaic County, New Jersey.

The claim involved the improper clipping and cutting of the plaintiff’s common bile duct, that was misidentified as the cystic duct during the procedure.  Trief & Olk argued that the error was made due to the defendants’ failure to identify the anatomy prior to clipping or cutting the duct.

At deposition, Trief & Olk were successfully able to obtain admissions from the defendant attending surgeon that the common bile duct was misidentified and incorrectly clipped and cut.  The defendant further admitted in response to Trief & Olk’s examination that he did not know why the error was made and did not identify the mistake during the surgery.  Trief & Olk were also able to obtain an admission by the resident surgeon that the clipping and cutting of the common bile duct was an “error.”  Settlement may have also been aided by facts discovered by Trief & Olk regarding prior medical malpractice claims brought against the attending surgeons out of state.

As a result of the malpractice, the plaintiff underwent a Roux-en-Y hepatico-jejunostomy, along with additional procedures to resolve strictures that formed within 18 months of the lap choly. The plaintiff will require monitoring due to the likelihood of future strictures; if any are discovered, the plaintiff may also require additional procedures to resolve the strictures.

There were no claims of past or lost future wages.  Settlement was reached well in advance of trial.

 

Trief & Olk Reaches Settlement on Complex Lap Choly Claim

Trief & Olk recently reached a settlement of $475,000 on a complex medical malpractice laparoscopic cholecystectomy claim in Queens County, New York.

Unlike some of the more typical laparoscopic cholecystectomy cases, the recent case did not involve claims of a transected common bile duct.  Rather, the claim involved allegations that the doctor failed to completely remove the gallbladder and failed to close off the remaining portion of the gallbladder, such that bile was allowed to leak into the plaintiff’s abdominal cavity for days before the injury was discovered.  Plaintiff’s course of recovery was slow and involved multiple hospitalizations, ERCPs, and a corrective surgical procedure to close off the remaining portion of her gallbladder.

Trief & Olk argued that the defendant doctor committed malpractice by (a) failing to convert to an open procedure when the doctor realized that issues with the plaintiff’s anatomy (scar tissue from a recent Caesarean-section delivery) prevented the doctor from performing a complete laparoscopic cholecystectomy; (b) failing to close the gallbladder after deciding to perform a partial cholecystectomy; and (c) failing to monitor the patient such that the leak was allowed to persist for days before any intervention.

Defendant argued that the procedure could not be converted to an open procedure because of risks associated with plaintiff’s refusal of blood transfusions, based on plaintiff’s religious beliefs as a Jehovah’s Witness.  Defendant also argued that the decision to switch to a partial cholecystectomy was a proper alternative to switching to an open procedure.  Finally, defendant claimed that cauterization of the area without visualization was sufficient to prevent biliary leaks.

Trief & Olk were ready to proceed to trial when the defendant finally agreed to engage in settlement discussions.  After negotiation, the defendant eventually agreed to pay slightly less than a half-million dollars.  The settlement was particularly impressive given the fact that the plaintiff, a stay-at-home mother, did not have any claims for lost wages and her future pain and suffering was largely based on her subjective complaints.

Time is of the Essence for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Repair

When patients suffer from complications following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, it is extremely important to obtain immediate medical care. Patients, however, sometimes do not get the care they need because of absent doctors, or unsupported opinions by medical staff that the complaints are part of the natural healing process, will resolve spontaneously, or are the result of a patient’s low pain threshold.  The delay, however, can be catastrophic, and if the delay in treatment is clearly contraindicated, may be malpractice on its own.

Amongst the laparoscopic cholecystectomy cases reviewed and litigated by Trief & Olk, a common complaint is that early symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea are disregarded by the medical staff and treated as routine and part of the natural healing process without any efforts to determine if there is a bile leak. While any surgical procedure, including a laparoscopic procedure, requires a period of healing, when complaints go ignored, minor problems can become major ones.  Oftentimes, quick medical intervention will allow revision procedures that could prevent the leakage or free-flow of bile into the abdomen. Since bile acts as an irritating substance to the abdominal cavity and surrounding organs, quick action can be the difference between a few months or even weeks of recovery and a permanent injury. Further, as time passes, revision surgery becomes more difficult, as scar tissue forms or the injured anatomy remains untreated and deteriorates. Ideally, leaks should be found immediately. Oftentimes, however, patients are made to suffer for days or even weeks before medical care providers investigate symptoms to determine if a bile leak was caused by the laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

If you recently underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and are experiencing complications such as nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain, the first step is to immediately alert your medical care provider.  Hopefully, after examining the symptoms and diagnosing your medical condition, your injuries can be healed with relative speed.  If not, however, know your rights and contact an attorney to discuss whether you have been the victim of medical malpractice.

New York Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Lawyer

Modern science has revolutionized the way doctors perform surgeries and has drastically shortened patients’ recovery times. The advent of laparoscopic surgery in 1989 meant patients would have smaller scars and less-invasive surgeries, and that’s the case for most patients. Unfortunately, medical error can create complications in even the most common and safe surgeries.

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, also known as Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC), is a common procedure where the surgeon removes the gallbladder using a few small incisions and the help of a small camera that’s inserted into the abdomen. In the hands of a skilled and experienced surgeon, this procedure is usually complication-free and takes about an hour.

Gallbladder surgery is one of the most frequent procedures in the United States, and is usually done laparoscopically. When an unskilled surgeon completes a surgery, medical errors may result. The most serious complications, such as a severed connection between liver and intestines, will be noticed immediately. Other problems, if left untreated or unnoticed, will result in death. If you or a family member recently experienced complications from surgery, please contact a New York laparoscopic gallbladder surgery lawyer at our office. We offer free consultations and would like to review your medical records to determine if you or a loved one may have a claim or may be entitled to compensation.

New York Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Lawyer

It’s no wonder that patients choose laparoscopic surgery over traditional gallbladder surgery, but it does have limitations. Doctors can’t see as much of your abdomen, so greater skill is needed to successfully complete your surgery. We understand that not every surgery goes by the textbook. If you’ve suffered pain or injury because of a surgeon’s mistake, you should speak with a New York laparoscopic gallbladder surgery lawyer. Our office is staffed with skilled litigators. If we choose to take your case, our professionals will work to negotiate a settlement or bring a lawsuit on your behalf in the courts system.

It’s common knowledge that the biggest risk in laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is having an unskilled surgeon. This nationwide problem led to a conference by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to focus in on solving the epidemic of surgical mistakes. If you or your loved one is potentially a victim of medical malpractice, don’t assume your voice will go unheard. Our attorneys have significant experience in the area of medical malpractice, and can discuss your situation and the potential for making a claim.

New York Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Lawyer Services

Since 1987, the law firm of Trief & Olk has provided numerous legal services to a wide variety of medical malpractice clients. If you or a loved one has a legal need, please contact us to find out more specific information about our firm or for a free consultation to discuss how our firm can help to resolve your gallbladder surgery case. Our law offices can be reached via telephone at (212) 486-6060 or by completing our confidential online form. When you fill out the form, include a detailed and thorough description of your case. We look forward to serving your needs.

New York Gallbladder Surgery Lawyer

When you visit the hospital for a routine surgery, you assume that the doctors and nurses there are professionals who will provide excellent care. That’s not always true. Even though gallbladder surgery is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States, complications still sometimes happen.

In 90 percent of cases today, gallbladder surgery is a laparoscopic procedure that uses a tiny camera to view the ducts being cut or clipped by the surgeon. The surgery is also known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The major surgical risk involved in the procedure is the surgeon’s small field of vision, compared with the full view of the abdominal area seen during traditional gallbladder surgery. Traditionally, a larger incision was made and the bladder was moved aside for a full, direct view of the gallbladder and its connecting ducts.

If a major complication arises, such as severing an incorrect duct, the patient may have health problems in the immediate future and require further surgery. If a complication from surgery or improper post-operative recovery isn’t discovered soon enough, your loved one is at risk of early death. If you believe that you or a loved one was injured during a procedure, please call a New York gallbladder surgery lawyer at our office for an evaluation concerning your case.

New York Gallbladder Surgery Lawyer

Complications don’t occur in most gallbladder surgeries, but when they do, it’s likely they might be the result of medical negligence. Such problems don’t just occur when the surgeon cuts an incorrect duct, although that is a major problem that can sever the connection between the liver and intestines. Many different complications can lead to a patient’s death or continuing health problems, such as improper anesthesia or medicine administration, an infection or incision errors.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a direct result of gallbladder surgery, or if a loved one has died, please do not hesitate to contact a New York gallbladder surgery lawyer in our office. We will review your medical records and the medical complications you’ve had since the surgery, to determine if you have a good reason for a medical claim, settlement or lawsuit. If we decide you have been the victim of medical negligence, we will work hard to help you attempt to receive the compensation that may be due to you. You shouldn’t have your finances and life ruined because a surgery was performed incorrectly.

New York Gallbladder Surgery Lawyer Services

Since 1987, the law firm of Trief & Olk has provided numerous legal services to a wide variety of clients. If you or a loved one has a legal need, please contact us to find out more specific information about our firm or for a free consultation to discuss how our firm can help to resolve your case. Our law offices can be reached via telephone at (212) 486-6060 or by completing our confidential online form. When you fill out the form, include a detailed and thorough description of your case. We look forward to serving your needs.

 

New Jersey Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Attorney

Errors can occur in any surgery, even during common surgeries such as a gallbladder removal. Surgeons use a laparoscopic procedure in gallbladder surgery, also known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), for 90 percent of patients. If a surgeon is unskilled, or proper care isn’t taken in post-operative recovery, you or a loved one may be injured or die due to medical negligence.

We know that most gallbladder surgeries are safe and efficient, but we understand that not every procedure goes as you’d planned. When the surgery doesn’t follow standard procedures, a number of complications can arise. Chances of infection may increase, as can chances of medication, incision or anesthesiology errors. When your surgery leaves you with added health complications, please contact a New Jersey laparoscopic gallbladder surgery attorney in our office.

We will thoroughly review your medical records and discuss your experience during and after the surgery. After completing a detailed analysis of your situation, we’ll determine if you may have been the victim of medical negligence and if you might be entitled to compensation to offset your increased medical bills and emotional suffering. If an invasive surgery resulted in wrongful death or lifelong health problems, we want to speak to you to determine how we can help.

New Jersey Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Attorney

The gallbladder stores and releases the bile that is secreted by the liver. This digestive fluid serves to break down fats, which are then absorbed by the digestive tract. When gallstones form, they can block this bile’s flow, creating painful, severe gallstone attacks. Surgery to remove the gallbladder is normally the remedy for these uncomfortable gallstones. This type of procedure once involved a three- or four-day hospital stay and a large, open incision. Advances in medicine have allowed for quicker laparoscopic surgery, which was invented in 1989, and shorter recovery times. During such surgeries, a tube is inserted through an incision in the naval and a camera is snaked through the tube. The surgeon uses tiny instruments to detach the gallbladder and safely remove it.

The major problem with laparoscopic surgery is that the surgeon must rely on images from the small television camera to correctly identify each duct on the small organ and cut the correct ones. Substandard procedures at any stage of the surgery can compromise a patient’s health and well-being. If your health has suffered as the result of your surgery, please contact a New Jersey laparoscopic gallbladder surgery attorney in our office today.

New Jersey Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Attorney Services

Since 1987, the law firm of Trief & Olk has provided numerous legal services to a wide variety of clients. If you or a loved one has a legal need, please contact us to find out more specific information about our firm or for a free consultation to discuss how our firm can help to resolve your case. Our law offices can be reached via telephone at (212) 486-6060 or by completing our confidential online form. When you fill out the form, include a detailed and thorough description of your case. We look forward to serving your needs.

Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Lawsuit in New York

For patients suffering from gallstones, relief is available in the form of laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, also referred to as Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC). This procedure removes the gallbladder and gallstones, and is less invasive than traditional gallbladder surgery. When it’s performed correctly, the patient is only in surgery for about an hour and has a significantly reduced recovery time. About 90 percent of gallbladder surgeries today are laparoscopic procedures. Many of these procedures are performed as outpatient services, or require only a one- or two-day stay in the hospital.

Mistakes do happen during gallbladder surgery, however, sometimes in the form of medical malpractice. When an unskilled surgeon performs even this common surgery, the wrong duct may be cut, severing the connection between the intestines and liver. Many other complications are possible too, and could result in death or continuing health problems.

Anyone who has experienced complications after laparoscopic gallbladder surgery should contact our office for a free consultation. After reviewing your medical records and a detailed account of your resulting problems, we can determine if you may be able to file a claim or may be due some form of compensation. Our skilled litigators, if necessary, can bring a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery lawsuit in New York and attempt to win the compensation you deserve.

Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Lawsuit in New York

Every patient deserves to undergo safe and reliable procedures with medical professionals who give their full attention to every surgery. Your life and well-being hang in the balance when you’re under anesthesia. When a mistake is made, because a surgeon or other team member didn’t perform a procedure correctly, you need to seek out help and insist that you are compensated fairly. A number of rare complications can occur that require more surgery and lengthier hospital stays. You shouldn’t be saddled with extra medical bills because a surgeon didn’t perform your procedure properly

If we determine that medical malpractice led to a client’s problems, we don’t hesitate to help in negotiating a claim. If that isn’t successful, our skilled and experienced litigators will file a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery lawsuit in New York and discuss every stage of the litigation process with the client. If medical malpractice led to your injuries or disabilities, we will work hard to attempt to help you receive the fair compensation that you may be due.

Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Lawsuit in New York Services

Since 1987, the law firm of Trief & Olk has provided numerous legal services to a wide variety of medical malpractice clients. If you or a loved one has a legal need, please contact us to find out more specific information about our firm or for a free consultation to discuss how our firm can help to resolve your gallbladder surgery case. Our law offices can be reached via telephone at (212) 486-6060 or by completing our confidential online form. When you fill out the form, include a detailed and thorough description of your case. We look forward to serving your needs.

Gallbladder Surgery Lawsuit in New York

Living with discomfort and pain is frustrating, and most people suffering from gallstones don’t hesitate to opt for laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. It’s such a common procedure and can be completed on an outpatient basis. What could go wrong? In most cases, the surgery goes as planned and is a success. The patient walks away feeling better than ever.

But for some patients, complications can lead to bigger health problems or, more seriously, certain death. In these cases, medical negligence could be to blame for your loved one’s illness or death. Some patients need additional surgery to regain the health they’ve lost. They shouldn’t also be forced to pay out additional money for medical care when the botched surgery wasn’t their fault.

If you have been injured, or a loved one has been injured or died during a procedure, you may be considering a gallbladder surgery lawsuit in New York. Please contact our office today for a free consultation. We will review your medical records and discuss your recent medical history and difficulties that arose from the surgery. If we believe medical negligence was at play, and you have a legitimate claim, we will work hard to attempt to help you gain the compensation you believe you deserve.

Gallbladder Surgery Lawsuit in New York

Every patient deserves a peaceful and safe experience when visiting a hospital for surgery. Every medical procedure should be performed according to reliable standards by trustworthy medical professionals who pay their full attention to every surgery. When you’re under anesthesia, your loved ones should know you’re getting the best available care. When a mistake is made, because a surgeon or other team member didn’t perform a procedure correctly, you must seek out help and insist that you receive fair compensation that alleviates any emotional harm and pays your extra medical bills.

Any number of complications can occur that require lengthier hospital stays or leave you with less functionality. If we determine that medical malpractice led to your problems, we won’t hesitate in helping you to negotiate a claim. If that isn’t a success, our skilled and experienced litigators will file a gallbladder surgery lawsuit in New York and ensure that you understand the process. If medical malpractice led to your injuries or disabilities, we will attempt to help you receive the fair compensation that you may be due.

Gallbladder Surgery Lawsuit in New York Services

Since 1987, the law firm of Trief & Olk has provided numerous legal services to a wide variety of medical negligence clients. If you or a loved one has a legal need, please contact us to find out more specific information about our firm or for a free consultation to discuss how our firm can help to resolve your gallbladder surgery case. Our law offices can be reached via telephone at (212) 486-6060 or by completing our confidential online form. When you fill out the form, include a detailed and thorough description of your case. We look forward to serving your needs.