There has been an increase in recent years in the number of keyhole surgery and laparoscopy procedures which has increased the level of complications and fatalities.

The majority of complications are with the initial surgical entry, and most of the medical negligence claims concern damage to the bowel, injuries to blood vessels and the use of electro surgery.

There are established protocols and subject to unusual anatomy, any injury at this stage may have been caused as a result of medical negligence.

While there are numerous advantages in keyhole surgery not least the lessening in pain and suffering and reduction in recovery time, there are very well established methods for the physical procedure of these operations.  

What is less 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.

The laparoscopy procedure itself involves making incisions to insert a fibre optic camera into the body.  The camera transmits live pictures of the procedure onto screens in the operating room. The camera is used to guide the surgical instruments around the inside of the body, the most dangerous part of this 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.

If a surgeon fails to follow tried and tested laparoscopy protocols intended to reduce the risk of accidental damage they may be liable in negligence to pay compensation for any injury.

General Surgery often results in surgical injuries caused as a result of medical negligence and includes:

 • Operating on the wrong site within the body.
• Incorrect surgical procedure, could include removing the wrong part of the body.
• Unnecessary surgery unrelated to the diagnosis or carried out on the wrong patient.
• Surgical instruments such as sponges, swabs and other items left in the body. It is estimated that several hundred patients are unfortunate enough to have surgical instruments left in their body every year.

If you have been unfortunate enough to suffer medical negligence following a LAPAROSCOPY and Keyhole surgery operation you should contact a solicitor for advice, your compensation award could be significant and would improve the safety of these operations in the future.