Making a medical negligence claim for gallbladder surgery errors
Keyhole surgery to remove your gallbladder, known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, is one of the UK’s most commonly performed operations. It’s a routine procedure, and most patients recover well; however, if you or a loved one has been left with complications after gallbladder surgery, it’s natural to wonder what went wrong and whether it was avoidable.
Our clinical negligence solicitors support clients through medical malpractice claims for gallbladder surgery and gallstone treatment. Here, we look at the process for claiming compensation for gallbladder surgery errors.
About gallbladder surgery
Many people undergo gallbladder surgery because of complications caused by gallstones. Previously, gallbladder removal surgery involved ‘open’ surgery with the surgeon making a large incision in the abdomen. However, this practice is now rare, and most patients have keyhole surgery.
Keyhole surgery is less invasive than open surgery, which means patients recover more quickly and spend less time in hospital. But whilst it’s now the norm for surgeons to remove the gallbladder using keyhole surgery, serious mistakes do happen, and these could lead to a claim for surgical negligence.
What can go wrong during gallbladder surgery?
Every operation carries some level of risk, even when performed correctly, and not every complication points to negligence. But there are common errors our solicitors see in gallbladder surgery cases. Any of these can lead to further surgery, extended recovery, or in more serious cases, lasting harm.
Damage to the bile duct or nearby organs
One of the most common errors in gallbladder surgery is the misidentification of the anatomy by the surgeon. This can result in injury to the common bile duct, blood vessels, the bowel or the liver and is often life-threatening or may leave you needing further open surgery.
If there has been a serious injury to the bile duct, it may be necessary for you to be transferred immediately to a specialist centre for bile duct reconstruction.
If the blood supply to the liver has been damaged, a section of the liver will also have to be removed. You’ll probably have to spend some time in intensive care after the operations, and you may make a slow recovery. Frequently, patients are left with chronic tiredness, a lack of energy and pain that affects their everyday lives.
Failure to note blood test results
You may also be able to make a surgical negligence claim if the surgeon fails to note your pre-operative blood test results. Routine blood tests are taken before keyhole gallbladder surgery, and the results can indicate that there are gallstones in the bile duct.
If the surgeon is unaware or doesn’t give this consideration before carrying out the operation, it can result in major problems and life-threatening conditions, such as biliary peritonitis.
Missed or delayed diagnosis of complications
Unfortunately, sometimes post-surgery complications such as an infection or internal bleeding are delayed in their diagnosis or misdiagnosed.
Making a negligence claim for gallbladder surgery errors
If you are considering claiming compensation for surgical errors, you will need to speak to a solicitor who specialises in medical negligence claims, who can advise you on whether your claim is likely to succeed.
A mistake doesn’t automatically entitle you to compensation. To be successful, our team will need to prove that the care you received fell below the accepted standard for that profession and that you suffered physical and/or psychological injury as a direct result.
Our specialist medical negligence lawyers will explain the claims process to you in detail. They will also obtain your medical records and consult medical experts before assessing whether your negligence compensation claim is able to be pursued.
This is where an experienced solicitor makes a real difference. Our expert team works with various external experts to ensure your claim is reviewed and managed to the highest standard. We work with barristers, medical experts, cost lawyers and charities, amongst others.
One thing many people find reassuring is that most medical negligence claims, including those for gallbladder surgical errors, can be resolved outside of court, via a pre-trial settlement. If, however, your claim does go to court, our specialist lawyers will work hard to ensure you achieve a fair outcome.
Read more about the medical negligence claims process here.
How we can help
If you’ve suffered as a result of medical negligence in gallbladder surgery, you may be able to make a surgical compensation claim. You can also claim for any losses or expenses you’ve incurred as a result, such as loss of earnings.
Errors during surgery can have serious, life-changing consequences. To discuss a potential negligence claim for gallbladder surgery or any other surgery, call our medical negligence solicitors on 0117 325 2929.
Alternatively, complete our online enquiry form and a member of the team will get back to you.
