Colonoscopy with polyp removal is one of the most commonly performed gastroenterological procedures in the United States. While most procedures conclude without incident, complications occur in approximately 7 out of every 1,000 patients who undergo biopsy or polyp removal. When complications are caused by medical negligence, patients may have grounds to file malpractice claims.
The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary represents patients who've suffered serious injuries during polypectomy procedures. Understanding the typical mistakes and the resulting injuries can help patients identify when substandard care occurred.
Common Medical Errors During Polypectomy
Procedural negligence accounts for 44% of malpractice claims related to colonoscopy and polyp removal. The most common errors include perforating the colon during removal and failing to properly seal it after taking out tissue.
- Perforation occurs when the colonoscope or surgical instruments create a tear in the colon wall. This complication occurs in roughly 0.09 to 0.6 cases per 1,000 colonoscopies with polyp removal. The risk increases substantially in patients over 70 years old and when the procedure is performed by non-gastroenterology endoscopists or low-volume practitioners. Right colon procedures carry a higher perforation risk because the colon wall is thinner in that region.
- Another significant error pattern is delayed diagnosis, which appears in 66% of malpractice cases. This covers failing to spot complications like perforation or bleeding immediately after the procedure. When doctors don't catch the signs of a perforation, waste and bacteria leak into the abdominal cavity, causing severe infections, sepsis, and possibly death.
- Incomplete polyp removal and missed polyps during screening also constitute negligence when they fall below the accepted standard of care. These failures allow polyps to develop into interval cancers, cancers that appear between scheduled screening colonoscopies. Studies show that failure to detect colorectal cancer during colonoscopy appears in 19% of malpractice allegations.
Patient Injuries Resulting from Polypectomy Negligence
When complications occur during or after a polypectomy, patients may suffer serious injuries that require emergency treatment and prolonged hospitalization.
- Perforation creates immediate dangers that can be life-threatening. A tear in the colon allows intestinal contents to leak into the sterile space of the abdominal cavity. Patients can develop peritonitis, abscesses, and sepsis without prompt recognition and surgical intervention.
- Post-polypectomy syndrome affects 0.14% to 3.7% of patients. This condition results from thermal injury to the colon wall during electrocautery removal. Patients experience abdominal pain and fever even without a frank perforation. The syndrome occurs more frequently after hot snare removal of large sessile polyps.
The most severe outcomes from missed or poorly managed complications are sepsis and organ failure. Undetected perforations let bacterial infection race through the bloodstream. Patients can end up in the ICU for extended periods, develop kidney failure needing dialysis, and face mortality rates that climb higher with each passing hour without treatment.
Your Legal Rights After Polypectomy Complications
If you or a loved one experienced serious complications following polyp removal, you may have grounds for a malpractice claim if the injury came from care that fell below standards.
The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary brings in medical experts who review procedure records, pathology reports, and hospital documents to see if negligence took place.
Our firm handles cases involving perforation, uncontrolled bleeding, sepsis, organ failure, and wrongful death following polypectomy procedures. We hold negligent physicians and medical facilities accountable for the harm their errors cause.
Get in touch with our Miami office for a case evaluation. We will go through your medical records and determine whether you have grounds to seek compensation for your pain and suffering.