Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Surgery & Gallbladder Disease

laparoscopic cholecystectomy information

laparoscopic cholecystectomy medical malpractice

SURGERY FOR GALLBLADDER DISEASE
The gallbladder is an organ roughly the shape of a pear-its only function is to store fat digesting bile and to release that bile when the body calls for it. Most gallbladder problems are caused by small stones or crystals that form in the gallbladder. While gallstones may lead to no problems at all, they often block the flow of bile leading to severe, painful "attacks."

Approximately 500,000 Americans undergo gallbladder surgery every year. Whenever the gallbladder is surgically removed the operation is called a cholecystectomy. The most common type of gallbladder surgery is a minimally invasive procedure known as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The main advantage of laparoscopic surgery is the short amount of time spent in the hospital, and the relative ease of the recovery. The patient should experience very little post operative pain, and ought to be able to resume all normal activities very quickly

The laparoscopic procedure does not require a large open incision, but rather several small openings where tube like instruments called trocars are inserted. The surgery is performed under the guidance of a telescopic videocamera. The surgeon inserts tiny instruments which are used to cut and clip the gallbladder attachments and then lift the gallbladder out of the body.

The most important part of the surgery involves the surgeon identifying and then cutting or clipping the proper structures. The gallbladders connection to the common bile duct is called the cystic duct. The surgeon must take great care to properly identify the cystic duct, and then make sure that clips or sutures are placed only on the cystic duct. Any inadvertent clipping, cutting, or suturing of the common bile duct can lead to catastrophic complications.

It has been estimated that each year as many as 100 people die, and 10,000 more are injured as a result of burns that occur during laparoscopic surgery. It is thought that the burns are caused by electricity which escapes through microscopic cracks in the insulation that surrounds the electrical wand that is inserted into the abdominal cavity to control bleeding.

In a survey conducted by a major association of surgeons, more than half of the doctors responded that they knew other surgeons who had encountered burns caused by electrical surgical medical tools.

Ask your surgeon what he or she believes is the actual risk of electrical burns and whether the hospital he operates in utilizes active electrode monitoring, which can detect the leaking of electricity.

LINKS TO LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY RESOURCES
National Institute of Health Consensus Statement on Gallstones and Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
http://consensus.nih.gov/cons/090/090_statement.htm

Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons
http://www.sages.org/

Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
http://www.sls.org/

American College of Surgeons
http://www.facs.org/

Medical Malpractice Alerts: Laparoscopic Cholecsytectomy
http://www.medlit.net/guests/alerts/lapacholv1i5.htm

Gastric Bypass Surgery Malpractice
http://www.gastricbypassmalpractice.com/




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