Gallbladder Disease Symptoms and Diagnosis
Gallbladder illnesses can be serious and require prompt medical attention. Some gallbladder symptoms mirror those of other illnesses, so it is important for a proper diagnosis to be made and for the correct medical treatment to begin as quickly as possible.
In many cases of gallbladder disease, your doctor will recommend laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. Serious complications after surgery could mean your doctor made a mistake and cut your common bile duct. If this has happened to you, the experienced and qualified New York medical malpractice attorneys of Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. can help you explore your legal options. We can be reached at 1.800.966.4999 or via our online contact form. We are ready to provide you with a free case evaluation and fight for you!
Symptoms of Gallbladder Conditions
If you or a loved one is suffering from any of the following symptoms, it is important to see a doctor. Your doctor will likely ask you when the symptoms began and to rate the severity of the pain. Symptoms to bring to your doctor’s attention include:
- Pain in the upper right abdomen that can be mild to severe;
- Pain that radiates to the middle and left side of the chest or to a patient’s back;
- Nausea;
- Vomiting;
- Fever and chills;
- Gas, nausea and general discomfort after meals;
- Chronic diarrhea;
- Jaundice; and
- Rapid heartbeat and fall in blood pressure.
Remember, not everyone will experience all of these symptoms, so it is important to consult a doctor to discuss your individual signs.
Diagnosis of Gallbladder Conditions
If you present to your doctor with these symptoms, you should expect your doctor to make a medical diagnosis based on one or more of the following:
- A physical examination;
- A review of your physical symptoms;
- An ultrasound to determine if gallstones are present;
- An oral cholecystogram (OCG). In an OCG procedure, the patient takes iodine and then has X-rays to determine if the gallbladder is properly contracting and whether there are gallstones present;
- An endoscopic procedure may be necessary to diagnose gallstones in the common bile duct. A small tube is inserted through the gastrointestinal tract to insert dye, and an X-ray is taken to determine if gallstones are present.
Gallbladder Surgery
If you have serious gallbladder problems, your doctor may recommend that your gallbladder be removed in a procedure known as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Normally that is a routine surgery, but in some operations doctors make a mistake and cut the common bile duct. In fact, the occurrence of bile duct injury has increased since surgeons began relying on laparoscopic surgery to remove gallbladders. Here's a step-by-step look at the operation.
If your common bile duct has been injured, you may be facing one or more complex operations to repair the damage. In the meantime, you’re paying for costly prescription drugs to treat infections caused by leakage of bile or blockage of a bile duct. All of these complications were caused by your doctor's error.
The NY medical malpractice attorneys of Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. can help you obtain the money you need to make a full recovery from the avoidable injury caused by your doctor's mistake. Please contact us at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation. Let us put our combined 150 years of experience to work for you.
