Gallbladder surgery negligence can result in the cutting of the common bile or common hepatic ducts.
Typically the underlying problem that necessitates surgery is the presence of gallstones in the gallbladder thereby necessitating the surgical removal of the gallbladder. This procedure is known as a cholecystectomy.
The role of the gallbladder is to collect and concentrate bile, which is used to aid in digestion. In particular, the bile is dispatched by the gallbladder into the small intestines by way of the biliary ducts in order to assist in the digestion of fatty tissue.
The presence of gallstones in the gallbladder can be life threatening in that the stones may block the ducts. In doing so it could potentially block the flow of bile. If the bile accumulates in the bloodstream, then the patient becomes yellow or jaundiced. A prolonged blockage of any of the biliary ducts can cause severe damage to the gallbladder, liver or pancreas.
The only true cure for gallstones is to remove the gallbladder itself. The gallbladder is not an organ that is necessary for continued existence.
The cardinal rule of gallbladder removal is that no anatomic structure is to be clipped or cut until the surgeon is unequivocally certain that the structure has been properly identified. A cardinal sin in biliary tract surgery is injury to the common bile duct.
Although the surgery in question is not a lengthy surgery, it can be complex. What is sometimes seen is that the surgeon performing the surgery does not have the requisite degree of experience. This alone may give rise to a claim based upon negligent credentialing against the hospital.
