Gallstone and Gallbladder Negligence Claim Solicitors

Gallstones are small stone-shaped bile deposits that occur naturally in the body.

Unfortunately, these ‘stones’ don’t go away on their own, so when complications involving gallstones arise and a patient suffers with one or several resulting symptoms, gallstone surgery may be deemed necessary to improve the patient’s quality of life.

Living with the symptoms of gallstones can be an incredibly stressful experience. Surgery is supposed to alleviate this stress, not add to it.

So, if avoidable harm is caused by improper medical care, it is vital that those affected know that there is help available.

If you think that you have suffered due to medical negligence in relation to gallstone surgery, then you may be entitled to compensation.

The only way to know for sure is by seeking advice from a solicitor that is well-versed in handling gallstone surgery negligence cases.

To find out if you (or someone you know) could have a claim, get in touch as soon as possible and we will do our best to get the answers you deserve.

What are gallstones?

Typically made of cholesterol, these ‘stones’ may differ in size, growing to anywhere from the size of a grain of sand to a golf ball.

They occur in the gallbladder, a pear-shaped organ responsible for containing the bile that is released into the small intestine.

Most of the time, gallstones won’t cause any symptoms and do not require removal or treatment. However, when complications arise, gallstones may cause patients’ extreme discomfort.

In this instance, a doctor may suggest surgery as a method of removing the gallstones and freeing the patient from their symptoms.

As with any surgery, there are risks involved with gallstone surgery. But when avoidable harm is caused to patient undergoing gallstone surgery, then the patient could be entitled to compensation.

To find out if you or someone you know could have a claim, you should get in touch with an expert solicitor with experience in handling cases of gallbladder surgery negligence.

Why choose SDS Solicitors?

At SDS Solicitors, we have been working hard to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients since 1997.

As a specialist medical negligence, accident and personal injury law firm, we have a wealth of first-hand experience in advising, consulting with, and defending our clients, many of whom have experienced gallstone surgery negligence and have sought compensation.

Despite being based in Manchester, England, we work closely with clients across England and Wales to determine whether they could have a claim, how much they could be entitled to and to help them through the process of making a claim.

To learn if you could be one of them, call us for free using the number at the top of this page, or simply fill in the contact form and one of our expert team members will get back to you as soon as possible.

Who is the most at risk of suffering with gallstones?

Gallstones are a very common condition, but those considered to be at a higher risk of developing gallstones include:

• The over 40’s
• Women, especially those that have given birth
• Those living with obesity
• Those taking medication for cholesterol
• Those suffering with diabetes
• Those that have undergone an extreme weight loss

It is also important to note that the risk of any individual getting gallstones does increase as they get older.

What are the symptoms of gallstones?

By themselves, gallstones don’t actually cause any symptoms. In many cases, patients can go on living day-to-day without even being aware that they have gallstones.

In fact, around 80% of those living with gallstones will never experience any symptoms at all.

However, when those living with gallstones develop complications, such as inflammation (otherwise known as cholecystitis), or if a gallstone is trapped in a duct within the gallbladder, some symptoms may quickly arise.

These symptoms include persistent pain of the stomach area, a fever, and jaundice (a condition where the skin and eyes may become yellow).

The issues and symptoms caused by complications such as these may be referred to as “cholelithiasis” or “gallstone disease”.

How are gallstones diagnosed?

If a patient has one or multiple symptoms of gallstones, their doctor may decide to run some tests to determine the cause of their symptoms.

While the precise method of diagnosis will differ from case to case, depending on the patient’s health and other risk factors, the following methods are the most common.

A favourite method for finding signs of gallstones is an abdominal ultrasound which involves using a transducer to send signals to a computer, creating images that reveal the structure of the abdomen. This is done by rubbing the transducer across the patient’s stomach.

One other method used by doctors to test for gallstones is a EUS, or endoscopic ultrasound, which is typically used to search for smaller stones that can be missed in an abdominal ultrasound. During surgery, a doctor will pass an endoscope (a flexible and thin tube) down through the mouth and digestive tract. At the end of this tube lies a transducer, which will create a more intricate image of tissues surrounding the gallbladder.

As well as the above, the doctor may choose to carry out a blood test to check for any potential complications caused by the gallstones and may also choose to carry out additional imaging tests such as a CT scan.

What is gallstone surgery?

As there are many different complications that may arise when gallstones form, there are several courses of action that a surgeon may decide to take in order to manage the patient’s symptoms and condition.

One such option is known as a “cholecystectomy”, a surgery that is performed to remove the gallbladder.

Once the gallbladder has been safely removed, bile will flow directly from the liver to the small intestine without needing to be stored in the gallbladder.

While gallbladder surgery doesn’t impact your ability to digest food, the process may result in the patient experiencing diarrhoea for a short (and temporary) period.

What is gallstone medical negligence?

Most of the time, gallstone or gallbladder surgery goes smoothly. However, as with all surgeries, there is always the potential for complications to arise during the procedure.

Very rarely, complications that arise during gallbladder surgery could result in injuries to blood vessels, other organs or the bile duct, or even retained gallstones.

Surgeons have a duty of care to their patients. Prior to any surgery, the patient should be made aware of these potential complications and doctors must ensure that they understand the severity of the operation.

In some cases, gallstones can lead to a medical emergency, so poor or delayed treatment can have serious consequences.

The risks involved with gallbladder medical negligence due to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis include:

• Extended periods of excruciating pain
• Inflammation of the bladder (Peritonitis)
• Inflammation of the gallbladder (Acute cholecystitis
• Inflammation of the bile duct (Acute cholangitis)
• Severe inflammation of the pancreas (Acute pancreatitis)
• Septicaemia
• A condition known as ‘Porcelain gallbladder’
• Increased risk of gallbladder and bile duct cancer

What are bile duct injuries?

Bile ducts are small tubes which carry bile outside the liver and can become injured during gallstone surgery.

During gallstone surgery, the bile ducts may accidentally become cut or even burned.

When an injury occurs, the bile duct will no longer be able to carry bile outside of the liver.

As a result, the normal flow of bile will become blocked, and it will likely begin to leak into the abdomen, leading to painful or even fatal outcomes.

While bile duct injuries are well-known complications of gallstone surgery, they are considered to be examples of medical negligence when there is a significant delay in diagnosing and treating the injury.

Why do bile duct injuries happen?

Usually, when a bile duct injury occurs, it is caused by the surgeon being unable to clearly see the area around the bile ducts and gallbladder during surgery.

Scar tissue, swelling or bleeding in the area can cause blocks in the doctor’s line or sight, as well as the patient’s anatomy being structured atypically.

What are the symptoms of bile duct injuries?

While the doctor may spot signs of bile duct injuries during the gallstone surgery procedure, the first sign that will typically become apparent post-surgery is a slower recovery than expected.

Afterwards, some of the symptoms that could occur include a fever, nausea, pain or swelling of the abdomen, general discomfort, feeling cold, or jaundice, which describes yellowing of the whites of the eyes and of the skin.

As the consequences of bile duct injuries going untreated can be severe, and because bile duct injuries are a very real risk of gallstone surgery, it is the doctor’s responsibility – not only to spot and diagnose symptoms as early as possible, but also to remain vigilant before symptoms occur.

If a medical professional fails to do so, then this could be classed as medical negligence. In this case, the patient would be entitled to compensation for all of the avoidable trauma that they have been subjected to.

How do I know if I have a claim?

The symptoms that come from gallstone complications can be incredibly difficult to live with.

If a doctor decides that surgery is necessary to alleviate these symptoms and help the patient’s quality of life, then this can add even more stress to the patient’s life.

Afterall, surgery is never a small matter.

So, when medical professionals make avoidable mistakes pre, during or post-surgery that result in unnecessary harm to the patient, it is completely understandable that many patients in this position will feel overwhelmed.

At SDS Solicitors, it is our mission to take as much of the stress away from making a claim as possible.

If you think that you have suffered due to medical negligence, then you could have a claim.

The only way to know for sure is by seeking advice from a solicitor that is well-versed in handling gallstone surgery negligence cases.

To find out if you (or someone you know) could have a claim, get in touch as soon as possible and we will do our best to get the answers you deserve.​​

Contact us

We are a leading specialist medical negligence, accident at work and personal injury law firm acting for claimants nationwide.

Our expert medical negligence solicitors regularly act for clients across Greater Manchester including Ashton, Bury, Bolton, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Middleton, Failsworth, Rochdale, Oldham and Whitefield.

Our team of recognised Surgery Negligence Claims Solicitors can support your needs wherever you live in Wales, England & Northern Ireland.

Call us for free now using the number at the top of the page or complete the online contact form and a member of our team will get back to you.