This case takes place in Virginia and involves a 52-year-old patient who presented for a trans-vaginal hysterectomy. At the end of the procedure, when vaginal vault was closed with sutures, the surgeon sutured the two ends of the vaginal vault as well as the bladder. The patient required 5 corrective surgeries including a full bladder resection and has suffered from a host of additional complications.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. How often do you perform hysterectomies using this approach?
2. Have you ever had a patient develop this complication?
3. Is suturing the bladder a known complication or likely the result of inadequate technique?
Expert Witness Response E-008679
I have been performing vaginal surgery of all types for more than 15 years and perform hysterectomy almost exclusively via the vaginal route. Clearly requiring several surgeries including a cystectomy would suggest that there was a significant problem that developed after the initial surgery. Having a suture enter the bladder that is inserted as part of the vaginal cuff closure is a known complication but does not usually lead to the type of extreme problems that seem to be described. I have served as an expert in several cases involving the formation of vesicovaginal or ureteral vaginal fistulas after both abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy. I have never seen a patient require this many corrective surgeries following this type of injury and this might indicate that something went severely wrong here. As a fellowship trained urogynecologist, I have both expertise in the operations that are alleged to have caused the problem and in the proper evaluation and treatment of urinary tract injury following any sort of surgery, particularly gynecologic surgery.
About the author
Michael Morgenstern
Michael is Senior Vice President of Marketing at The Expert Institute. Michael oversees every aspect of The Expert Institute’s marketing strategy including SEO, PPC, marketing automation, email marketing, content development, analytics, and branding.
