Midland Gallbladder Malpractice Lawyers

When Is Gallbladder Surgery Necessary?

There are a few situations where you may need to have to have your gallbladder removed. When the organ starts to struggle with controlling bile, you may experience some health complications:

• Gallstones. Sometimes, the bile in the gallbladder will start to crystallize. Gallstones can block bile ducts and cause pain. If this happens, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends you get medical attention as soon as possible.
• Gallbladder Inflammation. When the bile duct is repeatedly blocked it causes chronic cholecystitis. The gallbladder won’t be able to store and release bile as it did before the inflammation. Those with inflammation may experience cramping, pain in the upper right side or upper middle of their stomach. It can last for about half an hour.
• Gallbladder Pancreatitis. Gallstones can cause the pancreas to become inflamed. People who have acute pancreatitis may experience pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, and vomiting.
• Gallbladder Cancer. Symptoms of gallbladder cancer include pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, jaundice, abdominal lumps, and bloating. While difficult to detect in the early stages, there are treatment options: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of those options.

To get rid of a gallbladder, you may undergo one of the following procedures:

• Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery. This less invasive operation takes about two hours to complete. During this surgery, the surgeon makes four small incisions on the patient’s abdomen Then, they insert narrow tubes in the incisions and use cameras and tools to see inside and separate the gallbladder. The gallbladder is removed, and the incisions are closed.
• Open Gallbladder Surgery. If laparoscopic surgery isn’t an option, then the patient may undergo open gallbladder surgery. After receiving anesthesia, the surgeon makes a large incision under the bottom of the right rib cage or breastbone to the patient’s bellybutton. They cut the cystic duct, separate the gallbladder from its surrounding organs, and remove it. They close the incision.

Your doctor should go over your procedure and explain the risks associated with it. If this has not happened and you were not able to give informed consent, you should get in touch with our gallbladder malpractice attorneys as soon as possible.

What Errors Can Occur During the Procedure?

Many people may be nervous about getting a medical procedure. However, they trust their surgeon and medical team to safely perform the procedure and then work on recovery. If any medical professional makes a mistake during your procedure, they could severely injure you. Let’s take a look at the issues that can happen during gallbladder surgery.

When undergoing surgery, there are certain factors that can lead to complications. If the surgeon is inexperienced, they may be more likely to make a mistake. However, even an experienced surgeon can act recklessly. Other medical professionals like those in the operating room or those in post-operative care could act negligently and cause harm. Because the patient’s medical history and current health can also affect how they do during surgery, the medical team should take precautions to make the patient as safe as possible for the procedure.

While you may experience some temporary complications after surgery, prolonged issues are not normal. 

If you’re experiencing the following symptoms, someone may have made an error during your surgery.

• Sharp pain in your abdominal area, stomach, and sometimes it can reach your right shoulder and back
• Bloating in the abdominal area
• Jaundice, which you can identify with yellowing skin or eyes
• Fever
• Nausea

These symptoms can indicate complications like: