Morcellation Hysterectomy Side Effects
Approximately 500,000 women undergo hysterectomies each year, and of these about 11% were performed using a device known as a morcellator. That means that about 50,000 women every year receive laparoscopic morcellation hysterectomies, all without knowing about a particularly dangerous morcellation hysterectomy side effect. The FDA has found that one extremely troubling morcellation hysterectomy side effect is a significantly increased risk of cancer.
What is Morcellation Hysterectomy Cancer?
Laparoscopic morcellation hysterectomy removes the uterus using a long, thin laparoscope and a device called a morcellator – a rotary blade instrument – at its end. The laproscope is inserted into the uterus via a small incision in the abdomen, where the morcellator removes the uterus piece by piece. The procedure was initially touted as a safer and less costly alternative to abdominal surgical hysterectomies, but it is now clear that morcellation hysterectomies pose a considerable risk to women.
About 1 in 350 women has undiagnosed, benign cancer cells called uterine sarcomas. These cells reside in the uterine wall, and may be released into the body as a result of morcellation, the shredding and spreading of cancerous tissues that were previously dormant.
Morcellation hysterectomy side effects also include fever, nausea, flu- and menopause-like symptoms, infection, internal scarring and long recovery times. By far the most serious danger of this procedure is a morcellation hysterectomy cancer, which usually takes the form of an aggressive uterine sarcoma such as leiomyosarcoma or an endometrial stromal sarcoma. These are highly malignant cancers with very low survival rates, usually around 15% in their advanced stages.
The largest manufacturer of morcellators, Johnson & Johnson, has voluntarily suspended its sales of this dangerous device. Other manufacturers have followed suit, and a few major hospitals chains have preemptively banned the procedure in recognition of its potentially lethal side effects.
What Can Women Do?
Morcellator Cancer Lawsuit in the Making
Thousands of women who were unaware of the risks of laparoscopic morcellation hysterectomy are already preparing a morcellation cancer lawsuit. Patients who developed leiomyosarcoma (LMS) or other uterine sarcomas after a laparoscopic morcellation hysterectomy should consult a lawyer using the link below.
Click here to receive your free case evaluation.
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