Ureter Injury From Laparoscopic Surgery Can Have Serious Consequences

by James Lewis

JIm is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

A cut or nicked ureter can have serious, and even life-altering, consequences for the victim. This type of medical malpractice injury routinely occurs during a laparoscopic surgery. Doctors are trending towards this surgery since it is minimally invasive and has a shorter recovery time. In fact, laparoscopic surgery is often referred to as minimally invasive surgery, or MIS.

In order to conduct a laparoscopic surgery, the doctor uses a laparoscope. There are two kinds to choose from -- a telescopic rod lens that is connected to a video camera and a digital laparoscope where a device is placed at the end of a laparoscope. For both types, the risk of nicking or perforating a ureter is a concern for the patient. If a doctor is not careful, he or she can easily nick the ureter and not even notice the injury.

If your ureter is cut during a surgery, the results can be devastating. And you don’t have to take my word for it. Here is the true story of a woman who suffered a cut ureter injury during a laparoscopic surgery. She shared her experience on SteadyHealth.com:

I had vaginal laparoscopic hysterectomy ... during which the doctor cut my right ureter tube. I was supposed to be in the hospital only one night and go home the next day, but due to the ureter cut, I had to stay for four days and I was in horrendous pain. I was finally sent home with a catheter bag, drain bag, and stent. On Christmas day, I had to return to the hospital with horrible pain, so bad I couldn’t even walk. I was in the hospital for five days due to the fact that the doctors could not find out what was wrong. I was diagnosed with e-coli and other infections due to the cut ureter. I had to return to the hospital two more times, each for replacing the stents that did not work to correct the problem. I had to go back another time due to extreme pain. ... Tthis whole ordeal cost me my job and I am now facing thousands of dollars in medical bills.

Unfortunately, stories like this in which a patient suffers a cut ureter and does nt find out what happened until struck with excruciating stomach pain are quite common. If the injury is not treated quickly, it can cause permanent damage to the body.

If you or a loved one suffered a cut ureter, consider consulting with a medical malpractice lawyer in Virginia (VA) to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to pursue a medical malpractice claim in order to recover damages to help pay your medical expenses and to compensate you for the extreme pain and suffering associated with a cut ureter injury.

To learn more about cut ureter injuries, take a look at this free consume report discussing the top 5 surgical errors, which was written by an experienced medical negligence attorney in Virginia.

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice and doctor mistake cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Also, Rick and Jim have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

Members of our VA personal injury law firm have also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA medical malpractice firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top five surgical errors you must know about.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.

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Ureter Injury From Laparoscopic Surgery Can Have Serious Consequences