Henderson County (Ky) Circuit Court
During a laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy on a 32-year-old woman, the surgeon found extensive varicosities on the bladder flap. Bleeding was stopped by cauterization.
Three weeks later, the woman complained of leaking urine from her bladder. A small hole in her bladder had developed into a fistula.
In suing, the woman claimed the bladder was damaged during the cauterization and that the surgeon should have converted the operation to an open laparotomy to properly handle the vascular problems.
The defense contended cauterization was not near the bladder, and that fistulas can occur during hysterectomies without negligence.
- The jury returned a defense verdict.