Pensacola Bile Duct Injuries Attorney

Did Your Gallbladder Surgery Cause A Bile Duct Injury?

hospital in pensacola, floridaGallbladder removal or laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the U.S. today. Although the procedure is touted as safe and effective, many times surgeons fail to conclusively identify the common bile duct, and injury occurs as a result of misidentifying the ducts. Surgeons also use the da Vinci surgical system robots in performing these and other surgeries. Such misidentification of the common bile duct can lead to wrongly cutting, clipping or nicking the common bile duct, causing serious life-altering complications leading to potentially fatal complications. If you or a loved one have sustained a bile duct injury due to the negligence of a medical professional, you may be entitled to significant compensation.

Staples Ellis over the decades has handled numerous bile duct injury cases, and has significant knowledge of open and laparoscopic gallbladder procedures. Staples Ellis is very experienced in litigating and trying common bile duct injury cases. Staples Ellis provides aggressive legal representation to medical malpractice victims in Northwest Florida. We believe that no one should suffer because of a medical professional’s negligence and are dedicated to holding responsible parties accountable.

Gallbladder Surgery

The gallbladder is a small organ that stores and releases bile — a substance produced by the liver and needed to digest fats. Gallbladder surgery may become necessary when a patient develops deposits known as gallstones. Generally, there are two surgical methods available, either an open (traditional) cholecystectomy or a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

In an open cholecystectomy, a large incision is made to open the abdominal cavity and remove the gallbladder. This procedure requires a longer hospital stay and recovery time than a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which is one of the major reasons that laparoscopic surgery is the most common form of gallbladder surgery today. In this noninvasive procedure, a surgeon inserts a miniature light and camera into a small incision and relies on a monitor to guide his or her hands in detaching the gallbladder from the arteries and ducts in order to remove it.

If the bile duct is cut or torn, bile may leak into the bloodstream and abdomen, which can cause an infection, peritonitis, liver failure or death. Laceration of the bile duct can be caused by factors such as:

  • Lack of attention on the part of the surgeon
  • Inadequate training and experience of the physician or surgeon
  • Failure to convert to open cholecystectomy when the surgeon is unable to conclusively identify the common bile duct or when complications arise during a laparoscopic procedure
  • Failure of the surgeon to be properly trained in the use of the da Vinci robot
  • A doctor who fails to prevent, detect or treat a bile duct injury after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be held liable.

Northwest Florida Bile Duct Injury Attorney

Staples Ellis is dedicated to fighting for the rights of personal injury and medical malpractice victims in Northwest Florida. If you have sustained a bile duct injury after gallbladder surgery, we can help. It is important to remember that you cannot file a lawsuit simply because your injury case is due to a medical mistake. Instead, it is necessary to prove the physician deviated from the appropriate standard of care — the type of care that a reasonably skilled physician would have provided under the same circumstances.

Staples Ellis will conduct an extensive investigation to understand the circumstances that led to your bile duct injury. By collaborating with a respected network of medical experts we will show how your bile duct injury was caused by the negligence of the surgeon or medical provider. If your claim is successful, you may be awarded compensation for your past and future lost wages, medical expenses, and pain, and suffering. Finally, we handle all medical malpractice cases on a contingency basis which means that you will not pay any attorneys fees until we win your case.

Call our office today or fill out a contact form to set up a free consultation.

The Bile duct Injury Attorneys at Staples, Ellis & Associates serves clients in Pensacola County, Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County, Walton County, and throughout Northwest Florida.