Medical Verdicts

Trocar damages bowel, iliac artery, mesentery


 

Cole County (Mo) Circuit Court

During trocar placement for elective tubal ligation, the small bowel of a 43-year-old patient was perforated in 2 places. In addition, her right common iliac artery was punctured and her mesentery cut. The woman allegedly suffers from pain in her abdomen and groin, along with right leg fatigue.

In suing, the patient claimed that the physician inserted the trocar at an improper angle and pushed it too deeply into her abdomen.

The doctor contended that he inserted the trocar properly and that the injuries were a known risk of the procedure.

  • The jury awarded the plaintiff $300,000.
The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

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