Our Keyhole Surgery claims expertise
Our medical negligence
team specialise in keyhole surgery (laparoscopy)
claims. Our specialist solicitors have won compensation
for many clients who have suffered injuries as a result of
keyhole surgery negligence.
What is keyhole surgery?
Keyhole Surgery is carried
out using a laparoscope, which is a tiny camera
that is inserted into the body, usually through the stomach. It
provides a surgeon with video images to enable keyhole surgery to
be carried out on vital internal organs, such as the gall bladder,
the bowel or reproductive organs.
Surgery is carried out without having to make
a large incision. During the procedure a small metal tube is
inserted and, using a telescope along with the video camera,
the surgeon views the operation procedure on screen. The
procedure is then carried out by inserting cutting tools.
It is exciting technology, and in skilled hands, can offer great
benefits for the patient in reducing the level of surgery involved
and the amount of recovery time needed.
Keyhole surgery/laparoscopic error
Keyhole surgery can go wrong, for example, there is the
reported case of the wrong part of a bile duct being cut during a
routine gall bladder operation whilst using laparoscopic
techniques.
Other errors arise when the surgeon cuts too deep causing a
puncture or perforation and damages other internal
tissues. Whilst perforation is a recognised risk of keyhole
surgery many injuries are nevertheless caused by negligence and
heavy handedness.
Serious complications and fatalities arising as a result of
laparoscopy techniques have increased in line with the dramatic
rise in the use of this procedure. The general public sees numerous
advantages in keyhole surgery not least of which is a lessening in
pain and suffering and substantial reduction in recovery time.
Although there are very well established methods for the
physical procedure of these operations what is less well known is
that because of the nature of blind entry into the body, mistakes
which may be made as a result of an error of judgement can have
serious and sometimes fatal consequences. Most laparoscopy claims
arise as a result of damage to the bowel, bladder and blood vessels
often through use of electro surgery to coagulate, cut and
dissect.
The laparoscopy procedure involves making incisions to insert a
fibre optic camera into the body which transmits live pictures of
the procedure onto screens in the operating theatre. The camera is
subsequently used to guide the surgical instruments around the
inside of the body. The most dangerous part of the procedure
relates to the initial insertion of the camera as this must be done
blind and at that point there is a risk of unintended physical
damage especially if there is unusual body anatomy. If a surgeon
fails to follow tried and tested laparoscopy protocols intended to
reduce the risk of accidental damage he may be liable in negligence
to pay compensation for any injury.
Contact us
For further information or if you believe you have
a keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) legal
claim, please contact our medical
negligence team on freephone 0800 358 3848,
email personalinjury@ffw.com or
complete our short enquiry form.
All enquiries are completely free of charge and we will
investigate all funding options for you including
legal aid and no win, no fee.