Common Bariatric Surgery Errors: Bend-Portland Medical Malpractice Lawyer Explains

Bariatric Surgery Errors Due to Oregon Medical Malpractice: Bend / Portland Medical Malpractice Lawyer Shares Common Bariatric Surgery Errors You Should Know

 

There are many different types of bariatric surgeries.  These surgeries are generally considered safe, but also can carry some risks.  These procedures are usually successful for weight loss and sometimes necessary to save a patient’s life in certain complications relating to obesity.  While these are very important and beneficial, sometimes there are some common bariatric surgery errors which could cause significant personal injuries or wrongful death.  These may be due to Oregon medical malpractice and should be evaluated by a Portland medical malpractice lawyer.

 

What is Bariatric Surgery and What are Some Types of Bariatric Surgery?

 

Bariatric surgery is a type of weight-loss surgery which focuses on limiting, shrinking, or otherwise prohibiting food into the stomach.  There are many different types of bariatric surgery.  These types include reshaping the stomach to create a smaller pocket for food to come in (roux-en-Y gastric bypass), or using a band or inflatable balloon to make less room in the smaller pouch with a narrower opening (laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding), or cutting and reshaping the stomach entirely to change the entire shape and function of the stomach (sleeve gastrectomy).

 

Common Bariatric Surgery Errors and Mistakes Which Could be Oregon Medical Malpractice

 

Even though bariatric surgery is generally considered safe, there are some complications which could arise that could be the result in Oregon medical malpractice.  These errors can range from causing pain and suffering, to causing the wrongful death of a patient.  Some of the common errors during bariatric surgery which could be medical malpractice include the following:

 

• Infections – whenever you are cutting the stomach and intestines, the risk of infection is a very real risk.  This risk could be due to normal risks associated with all procedures which are unavoidable, but these risks could also be increased or unchanged by a doctor or healthcare team.  During a bariatric surgery, this could be due to improper sterilization of tools, failing to keep a sterile field, and breaching sterile protocols.  Failing to properly clean up “spills” inside the body during a procedure could also lead to bacterial infections.
• Surgical mistakes – using a scalpel, knife, needles, or other sharp instruments always creates the risk of injuring tissue by making the wrong cut, a sloppy cut, or an imprudent cut.  This can result in serious errors and injuries.
• Leaks – When there is a cutting and reshaping of the stomach, there is the possibility of leaks of stomach fluid and food matter.  If this gets into the body, it can result in very serious infections.
• Bleeding – If cuts, incisions, and other work performed inside a patient during a bariatric procedure is not properly closed and sutured, it can result in very serious personal injuries and even the wrongful death due to excessive bleeding.
• Improper use of banding or sleeve – when the surgeon uses a device to restrict the size of the stomach, if the device is too tight or improperly performed it could actually cause damage to the stomach and organs which permanently hurt or damage the stomach—meaning it will not heal itself.  This can be very serious and lead to horrific complications.

Did You Have a Complication After a Bariatric Surgery?  Call Our Portland Medical Malpractice Lawyer to Learn if You May Be Entitled to Compensation

 

When bariatric surgery errors result in serious personal injuries, victims should call our Portland medical malpractice lawyer to learn what rights to compensation they may have to pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and other expenses.  We handle cases throughout Oregon and Central Oregon, including Deschutes County, Salem, Portland, Eugene, Corvallis, Albany, Lake Oswego, Sisters, Redmond, The Dalles, Madras, Prineville Gresham, Hillsboro, Medford, and any other city, including Bend, Oregon where our main law office is located.  Please call Kuhlman Law, LLC by dialing (541) 385-1999 to learn what your rights to compensation you may have.  You may also contact us using our easy and convenient “contact us” box at the bottom of our website.  If we accept your case, we will conduct a thorough investigation to get you the answers you deserve, all for free.  There is no risk, and you only pay us if we recover compensation for you.