Each year, more than 300,000 people are hospitalized with acute pancreatitis. It is a condition that is painful, disabling and sometimes fatal. It can be caused by injury-producing accidents as well as by medical negligence.
At Gill Ports Hoste LLC, we understand compensation after an accident is more than just corrective action to “punish” a negligent person or institution. Compensation can make the difference between a full recovery and unending misery. Our injury attorneys in Chicago have more than 100 years of collective experience and a common goal of maximizing compensation for our clients.
What Is Acute Pancreatitis?
According to The National Pancreas Foundation, acute pancreatitis is a painful inflammatory condition of the pancreas. Symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever and rapid pulse.
Acute pancreatitis is a serious medical emergency, largely because of the pancreas’s role in digestion and hormone regulation. When the pancreas is inflamed, the enzymes that it normally secretes into the duodenal part of the stomach end up attacking the organ itself. The condition can cause dehydration and low blood pressure; if left untreated, it can lead to multiple organ failure or death.
What Causes Acute Pancreatitis?
Inflammation of the pancreas – which is the defining characteristic of acute pancreatitis – can be caused by direct trauma to the organ or by physical conditions like gallstones or high triglyceride levels. Some common situations that can lead to the condition include:
- Abdominal trauma from car accidents, workplace injuries, slips and falls, or other injuries
- Surgical errors during abdominal surgeries such as gastric bypass or gallbladder removal
- Complications of poorly administered endoscopic procedures such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Injury from medical devices
- Anesthesia errors
- Medication errors/adverse drug effects
- Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of underlying conditions that cause acute pancreatitis
Our medical malpractice and personal injury attorneys will review your case and investigate the facts of your case to demonstrate how medical professionals or institutions failed you.
What Is The Long-Term Impact Of Acute Pancreatitis?
When given proper treatment, most patients recover from acute pancreatitis. If a diagnosis of the condition is missed, however, patients can suffer painful and dangerous after-effects, such as:
- Pancreatic pseudocysts
- Pancreatic necrosis
- Development of chronic or recurrent pancreatitis
- Diabetes
- Chronic abdominal pain
- Increased chance of pancreatic cancer
- Heart, lung or kidney failure
The mortality rate from acute pancreatitis is 10% and has remained unchanged in the last 20 years.
What Damages Can You Recover From An Acute Pancreatitis Lawsuit?
If you or a family member has had acute pancreatitis and believes it is related to a medical error or a personal injury, our legal team can be your advocate in court. Our lawyers pride themselves on being fearless in the face of taking on large medical institutions, whether in the Chicago metro area or elsewhere around the country.
Your Gill Ports Hoste LLC medical malpractice attorney in Chicago will demand a full accounting of the damages you’ve suffered as a result of acute pancreatitis. Some of the damages you may be able to request include:
- Past, present and future medical expenses related to your condition
- Pain and suffering resulting from the diagnosis
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment in life as you adapt to your “new normal”
- Lost earning capacity and income lost during your illness
If you have lost a loved one to acute pancreatitis, you may be able to lodge a wrongful death claim and seek damages related to loss of companionship, lost income and funeral/burial costs.
Begin Your Fight For Full Compensation With A Free Consultation
If you suspect your pain and suffering are the result of acute pancreatitis, contact the law firm of Gill Ports Hoste LLC. Call our office in Chicago at (312) 372-8893 for a free initial consultation. Our attorneys will review your case thoroughly to determine whether you were the victim of negligent care.