Study Notes Link Between Power Morcellator Use And Accelerated Uterine Cancer

January 08, 2016 – – Banville Law reports on a power morcellation study which indicates that use of a laparoscopic power morcellator tool by physicians is on the decline. Additionally, another study appears to suggest that women who undergo power morcellation for procedures like hysterectomies and myomectomies have lower survival rates than women who choose open surgery alternatives for the same procedures. These studies were recently published together in a December 2015 issue of the Medical Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

It seems that physicians are beginning to heed safety warnings issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2014. The FDA’s statement at that time indicated that laparoscopic power morcellation should not be used to remove uterine fibroids, due to a risk of exposing and disseminating cancer cells which may have been previously undetected.

During this announcement, the FDA also estimated that 1 in every 350 women who undergo these procedures may have hidden uterine cancer cells that they are completely unaware of. When the power morcellator tool shreds the fibroid tissue into pieces, it can expose the cancer cells and help to upstage and accelerate the cancer, directly impacting the patient’s life expectancy and survival rate.

Prior to lawsuits, studies, and FDA warnings, patients sometimes favored the use of a laparoscopic power morcellator during gynecological procedures, as it provided a less invasive option than open surgery; one that allowed a shorter recovery time as well. The tool is inserted into the lower abdomen through a tiny incision, where it then rapidly spins blades in order to shred troublesome fibroid tissue. This tissue is then able to be pulled up a hollow tube on the front of the device and removed from the patient’s body.

Power Morcellation no longer appears to be a preferred method, today, however. The medical community appears to have largely ceased morcellator use during gynecological surgeries. They appear to have noted a substantial cancer risk, which also involves rare and fatal leiomyosarcoma.

A study published by the Kaiser Permanente indicated that women undergoing laparoscopic power morcellation on their fibroids were actually at increased risk of dying. Cancer cells which are encapsulated within a uterine fibroid are nearly impossible for physicians to detect without surgery. The study noted an “…unadjusted 3-year probability of disease-free survival for no morcellation, power and non-power morcellation was 0.54, 0.19, and 0.51, respectively.” The researchers involved also found that: “Morcellation is associated with decreased early survival of women with occult leiomyosarcomas.”

Lawsuits filed against power morcellator manufacturer Ethicon continue to grow in number and have been consolidated by the JPML to form multidistrict litigation number 2652. They are being overseen in the United States District of Kansas by the Honorable Judge Kathryn H. Vratil.

The attorneys at Banville Law are now working to ensure that everyone affected by power morcellation will have the opportunity to evaluate their legal rights. Women who underwent laparoscopic power morcellation to remove uterine fibroids and who were subsequently diagnosed with cancer may be entitled to compensation. Banville Law is offering free consultations for affected individuals at this time.

To request further information regarding power morcellation lawsuits or to ask questions, please contact the attorneys at Banville Law by calling (888) 997-3792.

###

Contact Banville Law:

Laurence Banville, Esq.
888-997-3792
info@banvillelaw.com
165 West End Avenue, #1H
New York, NY 10023
United States (US)

ReleaseID: 60007021