What is a gallstone?
What is a gallstone?
Deposits that look like crystals develop in the gallbladder. They are known as gallstones. Gallbladder is small and pear-shaped. It stores the digestive fluid bile that is produced by the liver. The gallstone size could vary. It could look like granules or take the shape of a ping pong ball.
These stones could be smooth or rough. In the US, 10% men and 20% women have gallstones. Even if these stones are present, they need not cause any problems. They usually float inside the gallbladder and are asymptomatic and harmless.
Gallbladder surgery
Cholecystectomy or laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is performed to remove gallbladder and gallstones from the body. The surgeon makes several incisions in the abdomen to remove them. It is considered a safe surgery with little side effects. The common after-effects include gastric disturbances, bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Ultrasound exams reveal the presence of these dormant stones. The longer the stone is inside the gallbladder, the greater are the risks of a problem. When the gallstone gets fixed or wedged or flushed in the bile duct, pain ensues while contraction takes place. Usually the stone is stuck in the cystic duct that connects the gallbladder to the common bile duct. The pain is more after a good meal or while asleep in the night.
Such stones can block the common bile duct that transport bile to the small intestine or the hepatic [liver] ducts that transport bile from the liver. When the bile’s paths are obstructed the ducts are inflamed and infected. This causes unbearable pain. Sometimes in case of women, gallstones move into the small intestine and obstruct the pathway into the large intestine. This is a serious medical condition.
Gallbladder obstruction
Symptoms of gallbladder obstruction include:
· Nausea and vomiting
· Prevents normal activities and deep breathing
· Can disturb sleep and wake you up
· Loss of appetite
· Bloating and diarrhea
· Urine turns dark
· Pain with fever and nausea
· Inflammation of the gallbladder [acute cholecsystitis]
· Discomfort after food intake
· Fever with chills
· Stools are light in color
· Hepatitis or liver infection
Gallstones are removed through laparoscopic surgery and during ten in 100 surgeries in the US, surgeons change over to an open surgery that requires bigger incision. One unprecedented incident of medical malpractice could jeopardize the life of a patient. Our New York City attorney for gallbladder surgery errors is available any time to assist you with medical malpractice queries.
Risks that accompany the gallbladder surgery
Complications could arise due to
· Common bile duct injury
· Damage to liver during surgery
· Complications due to general anesthesia
· Bleeding inside the abdomen
· Gallstone flushed into the common bile duct
· Retention of gall stones in the abdomen
· Infection at the site of incision
· Hepatic artery damage during surgery
· Bile leakage
Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff have law offices located in Astoria, Queens, New York City and two locations in Brooklyn. If you or your loved one has suffered injuries due to medical malpractice in a gallbladder surgery, our New York City attorney for gallbladder surgery errors will guide you and suggest you legal remedies. Call 212-344-1000 and we can discuss how to alleviate your financial situation.
