Yaz Gallbladder Injury

by Steve Fields on May 1st, 2010

Yaz And Gallstones: Treatment For Stones Inside And Outside The Gallbladder

Yaz gallbladder injury problems stemming from the use of Yasmin, Ocella and Yaz birth control and gallstones have prompted otherwise healthy women to undergo gallbladder removal surgery. Unfortunately, while the procedure is commonly recommended by doctors, it often fails to address the presence of stones. Much depends upon where the stones are located within the biliary tract.

Gallstones typically form within the gallbladder. This is usually due to an increase in the level of cholesterol present in the bile fluid combined with a reduction in the gall bladder’s contractions. Both circumstances allow cholesterol-heavy bile to remain in the organ too long. It turns into a sludge-like material that eventually forms stones.

Yaz gallstones can linger within the gallbladder or migrate into the common bile duct. Below, you’ll discover the different forms of treatment necessary to resolve both problems.

Yaz Gallstones Within The Gallbladder

When stones remain inside your gallbladder and become symptomatic, the most common form of treatment is to surgically remove the organ. The operation is known as cholecystectomy. In most cases, it is performed with a minimally invasive approach called laparoscopy. If such an approach is not possible (due to infection or scarring), open abdominal surgery is performed.

With laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the surgeon will first use carbon dioxide gas to inflate your abdomen. Next, several small incisions are made into your abdomen through which surgical tools are inserted. One of these tools is called a laparoscope, a thin instrument equipped with a tiny video camera. It transmits images back to a monitor used by the surgeon to inspect the gallbladder and surrounding internal structures. The other surgical tools are then used to sever the organ’s connections before extraction.

The advantage of gallbladder removal surgery for treating Yaz gallstones is that it prevents recurring biliary colic triggered by inflammation of the organ. The drawback (in addition to potential bile duct damage) is that bile fluid cannot be stored and concentrated prior to digestion. Instead, bile flows directly from your liver to your small intestine. Because it arrives in your duodenum in an non-concentrated state, it is less efficient for digesting fats.

Yasmin Gallstones Within The Bile Duct

When gallstones migrate into the common bile duct, they cannot be treated through cholecystectomy alone. A different procedure must be performed to retrieve the stones. The procedure is called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), an approach that is usually done in conjunction with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES).

With ERCP, a thin tube called an endoscope is inserted into your mouth and guided down your esophagus. Similar to a laparoscope, it is equipped with a small camera that sends images back to a video monitor. The surgeon will continue threading the endoscope through your stomach and small intestine until it reaches the bile duct. Once it reaches the site, a catheter is passed through the endoscope, through the sphincter of Oddi, and into your bile duct. A contrast dye is released in order that X-rays can expose the exact location of bile duct stones.

Endoscopic sphincterotomy is performed to widen the opening of the common bile duct as it opens into the duodenum. A small incision is made through the muscles of the sphincter of Oddi. This is done to make extracting the bile duct stones easier, or to allow them to pass more easily into the small intestine.

Potential Dangers Of Yaz Gallbladder Problems

Gallstones are usually asymptomatic. They form over several years and remain dormant. However, if they cause biliary colic, the stones can unexpectedly produce severe abdominal pain, fever, and nausea within minutes. If this occurs, hospitalization and treatment is usually necessary.

Left untreated, Yaz gallbladder disease and blockages caused by bile duct stones can become dangerous. The former can lead to infection, perforation, and permanent damage of the organ. The latter can cause pancreatitis, which can be potentially life-threatening.

If you have suffered from Yaz gallbladder injury related gallbladder problems, invest the time to explore your legal rights. Contact an experienced Yaz gallbladder lawsuit attorney to discuss filing a claim against the manufacturer for compensation for your injuries.