Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure, during which a surgeon will remove a woman's uterus. Gynecologists recommend hysterectomies in a range of medical circumstances, and around 600,000 American women have this type of surgery every year. Morcellation is a technique that some gynecologists use to conduct a hysterectomy, but the device used in the procedure can cause serious injuries. Find out how morcellation works, the side effects you can face during this type of surgery, and why some women are filing personal injury lawsuits.

Reasons to have a hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is the second most common surgical procedure that women in America undergo. Conditions that doctors treat using this type of surgery include:

• Fibroids or non-cancerous growths inside the wall of the uterus
• Problems with heavy menstruation
• Cancer of the cervix, uterus or ovaries
• Prolapse, where the uterus falls into the vagina due to damage to the pelvic floor muscles
• Pelvic inflammatory disease

After a hysterectomy, the woman is no longer able to have children, so it's vital that patients carefully consider the implications of the procedure. Indeed, the National Women's Health Network states that between 10 and 90 percent of all hysterectomies are not medically necessary.

Why surgeons carry out morcellation

Between 20 and 80 percent of women develop fibroids before they reach the age of 50. In many cases, women with fibroids don't have any symptoms, but these non-cancerous growths can make life difficult. Many women with the condition experience pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, frequent urination and abdominal swelling. Fibroids can also commonly lead to an enlarged uterus.

Traditionally, women with this condition would undergo an open, invasive hysterectomy. Morcellation is a more advanced surgical method where a surgeon can reduce the size of the uterus with a special instrument called a power morcellator.

The morcellator is a small device with rotating blades. The surgeon uses the morcellator to break down the larger tissue mass into smaller pieces. He or she can then vacuum away the broken down tissue. The small entry point avoids the need to cut through stomach muscle, speeds up patient recovery and generally causes fewer scar complications.

The risks from morcellation

While many women benefit from the morcellation technique, some patients suffer complications and side effects. The process of morcellation can spread minute fragments of tissue throughout the woman's pelvic and abdominal cavities. These fragments can sometimes seed as growths and may attach to other organs and tissues. If this activity occurs, the woman may need further surgery to deal with the problem.

The most serious risk from power morcellation occurs where the woman has undetected cancerous cells in the abdominal or pelvic cavities. A rare form of cancer called uterine sarcoma can mimic the appearance of benign uterine fibroids. Uterine sarcoma is an aggressive form of cancer. Power morcellation can cause this type of cancer to spread because the process can spread cancerous cells in the woman's body. If the woman goes on to develop a form of cancer called metastatic leiomyosarcoma, she will face one of the lowest soft tissue cancer survival rates.

What the FDA says

The risks from power morcellation are significant, and the United States Food and Drug Administration issued a safety communication in November 2014. In fact, the issue was serious enough for the FDA to issue an Immediately in Effect (IIE) guidance note.

As part of this communication, the FDA warned healthcare professionals against the use of power morcellators to remove the uterus "in the vast majority of women." The FDA highlighted that most women eligible for the surgery are at risk and applied the warning to all laparoscopic power morcellators on the market.

For many women, this advice came too late. Manufacturers of drugs and medical devices must make sure that their products are safe for their intended use. All drugs and devices must carry relevant warnings about any possible side effects and risks. Many women suffered injuries from morcellation without the right advice about the potential risks. In these cases, many women have gone on to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Power morcellation can lead to serious side effects and injuries. If you have experienced this type of injury, try going here or contact an experienced attorney for more advice about your right to claim compensation.