Coles Miller medical negligence solicitors helped a grandmother to gain £100,000+ in compensation after her gallbladder operation went wrong.
The grandmother from London was admitted to West Middlesex University Hospital for keyhole surgery to remove her gallbladder.
But during the operation, the surgeon negligently divided the common bile duct, a tube that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder (via the pancreas) to the small intestine.
The error was discovered during the operation. The patient was transferred to Hammersmith Hospital the same day. She remained there for six weeks.
During that time, she suffered from a persisting bile leak and also from multiple instances of fever. The patient spent a prolonged period in intensive care, underwent scans, and was treated with antibiotics.
Sixteen days after her initial operation, the patient again underwent keyhole surgery, this time to insert a tube to control bile drainage.
She developed an irregular heartbeat from sepsis, the body’s adverse reaction to infection.
The patient was discharged with drains in place. Coles Miller Partner David Simpson said: “Our client found the whole experience very frightening. She suffered life-threatening complications.
“It happened when the hospital was experiencing its first Covid lockdown, when her family were not allowed to visit her for some time,” added Mr Simpson, Head of the Medical Negligence team at Coles Miller.
Two months after the first operation, the patient was readmitted for a change of catheter. Six weeks later, she underwent another procedure – this time to bypass the bile duct.
But she continued to experience problems. A year after her initial surgery, a scan revealed that she had developed further complications because of narrow arteries and veins.
She continues to suffer from:
- abdominal pain after eating and at night – it wakes her up
- periodic shiver attacks that she manages with antibiotics
- increased tiredness and a loss of strength that affects her daily living – she now needs domestic help
- permanent anxiety and a lack of concentration.
Mr Simpson said: “It is impossible to predict how frequently she will have to return for surgical procedures.
“She will probably continue to experience infections. These can become very severe and even life-threatening,” he added.
The grandmother has suffered significant Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because of the injury and treatment.
“She believed that she was going to die in hospital. She experiences flashbacks and vivid nightmares of the events,” said Mr Simpson.
“Her PTSD is associated with significant depression and anxiety. She requires Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment, as well as a course of medication if the first line treatment is unsuccessful.”
The victim has suffered loss of earnings. She had been a customer services assistant but was initially furloughed and was then off work due to her illness.
She has not been able to work since beginning of 2020 and now has increased care needs and medical expenses.
West Middlesex University Hospital is run by the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The Trust admitted liability and causation early on. It admitted that the bile duct should not have been cut, and that the injuries were avoidable. The £100,000+ compensation was paid by way of a settlement.
For more information, contact Coles Miller Partner David Simpson.
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