Today I have something totally different on my blog. Something that effects all women.
The purpose of the post is to create awareness about some new and possibly dangerous developments within the women's health community.
On April 17, 2014, the Food and Drug Administration issued an official safety communication discouraging the use of power morcellators in both hysterectomies and myomectomies (removal of uterine fibroids). A power morcellator essentially chops up large pieces of tissue so that they can be removed more easily during laparoscopic surgery. The problem arises when the tool unintentionally minces up cancerous material and releases it into a woman’s pelvis and abdomen, severely compromising her chance of long-term survival.
Unfortunately, there are no reliable non-surgical methods to determine whether a woman has an undetected cancer before laparoscopic surgery is performed. The FDA estimates that 1 in 350 women who undergo hysterectomies or myomectomies have an undetected cancer. Worse yet, some uterine sarcomas, like leiomyosarcoma, are very aggressive and have a poor survival rate even when localized within the uterus. In fact, the average life expectancy of a woman who has had a cancerous tumor unintentionally pulverized by a power morcellator is a mere 24-36 months.
An FDA panel, convened in July 2014, sought to review and debate the questionable safety of power morcellators. Sadly, the panel was only able to agree that women “should sign a written consent form stating they understand the serious risks of laparoscopic power morcellation.”
Simply signing a consent form is not enough. The use of power morcellators needs to end. Several hospitals and medical centers, including Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Tufts Medical Center, have already voluntarily banned the use of power morcellators. With increased awareness, an all-out ban should follow.
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE SUBJECT YOU CAN EITHER GO TO THE WEBSITE POWER MORCELLATOR
OR EMAIL: general@recallcenter.com
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