Surgery for the removal of the gallbladder is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the world. The gallbladder is a small sac-shaped organ situated beneath the liver and stores bile which is secreted by the liver to help digestion. Gallbladder surgery, known as a cholecystectomy, can be performed either laparoscopically or by an open incision. Among the numerous steps of the procedure, a surgeon must dissect the cystic duct from the gallbladder to detach and remove the gallbladder, while leaving the common bile duct intact and unharmed.
While complications can occur in a surgery, injury to the common bile duct can be considered malpractice. Injury to the common bile duct in gallbladder surgery can arise if the surgeon misidentifies the common bile duct as the cystic duct. Instead of cutting the cystic duct, the surgeon instead cuts the common bile duct. To prevent this misidentification in medical malpractice, the surgeon must make a critical examination of the gallbladder and duct anatomy before making a critical dissection.
A surgeon is required to look for injury to the common bile duct during the surgery and repair the injury during the surgery. A failure to recognize injury to the common bile duct either during the surgery or following the surgery can be malpractice. Prompt recognition of injury to the common bile duct is required so that surgical reconstruction of the duct can occur before further complications develop.
Other injuries which can occur in a gallbladder surgery include injury to the bowel which can be a claim for malpractice.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury during gallbladder surgery, the Lacy Katzen team can evaluate the potential claim and advocate for your rights as a patient. We invite you to contact us today.
Written By Peter Rodgers
