Power Morcellator Lawsuit Plaintiffs Note Recent University Of Michigan Study

November 15, 2015 – – Tracey & Fox reports on a study conducted by the University of Michigan which was designed to evaluate the overall impact of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 2014 warning regarding power morcellation use on the general public. The warning indicated that the devices should no longer be used in gynecological surgeries to remove uterine fibroids due to cancer-spreading risks connected to the devices.

These warnings are additionally supported by decades of research, and they have led to change in many prominent medical facilities. Additionally, one large power morcellator manufacturer (Johnson & Johnson) has completely ceased production of the devices, and has recalled those currently on the market.

Researchers from the University of Michigan decided to find out how surgeons had chosen to react to these FDA alerts, and to see how these findings were affecting the outcomes of patients. Their study covered women who had undergone hysterectomy procedures at hospitals located in the statewide Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative. Data analyzed was from 9,597 hysterectomies which were performed over a 16-month period of time following the initial FDA warning as well as 5,775 hysterectomies which were performed up to 8 months following the warning.

As predicted, findings indicated that laparoscopic hysterectomies with the use of power morcellator tools decreased by 4.1%. Accordingly, this meant that there was an increase in abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies, which did not use a power morcellator. Instances of abdominal hysteretomies increased by 1.7% and vagnial hysterectomies increased by 2.4%. Although this highlighted the decrease they assumed, authors stated that the amount of the decrease seemed small. They mentioned a recent survey which indicated that half of surgeons had considered changing their surgical approach from power morcellation after observing the safety warnings.

Further studies, however, which looked only at supracervical laparoscopic hysterectomies (which are specifically associated with power morcellator use), noted a decline of 59% in use, which seemed much more in line with the results of the surgeon survey noted.

Power morcellators are the subject of more than just FDA warnings and studies. They have become addressed in a growing number of lawsuits which have now been consolidated to form multidistrict litigation. Allegations surrounding the devices allege that they can spread cancer in patients, causing the patients to be diagnosed with aggressive, widespread cancers post-surgery.

When used, the tool is inserted through patient’s abdomen, where it spins small blades to tear apart uterine tissue and uterine fibroids. In doing so, however, plaintiffs allege that it also exposes previously hidden cancer cells and spreads them throughout the body.

The attorneys at Tracey & Fox are working to ensure that anyone who has undergone a laparoscopic power morcellation procedure and who has subsequently been diagnosed with cancer is able to explore their legal rights. These individuals may be entitled to compensation, and Tracey & Fox is currently offering them free consultations.

To receive additional information concerning power morcellators or surrounding lawsuits, or to ask questions, please contact Tracey & Fox by calling 713-322-5375.

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Contact Tracey & Fox:

Sean Tracey
713-495-2333
440 Louisiana Street , Suite 1901
Houston, TX 77002

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