Are power morcellators still used?

HCA Healthcare Inc., which has roughly 300 U.S. hospitals and surgical centers, maintains a companywide morcellator prohibition, for example. “Yes, they are still used.

What is morcellation surgery?

Morcellation is a surgical technique used to reduce the size of the uterus or myomas by creating smaller pieces to allow the tissue to be removed through small incisions or with laparoscopic instruments.

How does a power Morcellator work?

How Does a Morcellator Work? The term “morcellate” means to cut into smaller pieces. These power morcellators allow surgeons to make minimally invasive incisions of less than 2 centimeters in length and remove fibroids and other tissue through the small incision.

What is the best procedure to remove fibroids?

Myomectomy. A myomectomy is an operation to remove fibroids while preserving the uterus. For women who have fibroid symptoms and want to have children in the future, myomectomy is the best treatment option. Myomectomy is very effective, but fibroids can re-grow.

Is morcellation used in robotic hysterectomy?

Data indicate about 10% of robotic hysterectomies involve power morcellation, lower than the rate in non-robotic laparoscopic surgery.

What is contained morcellation?

Tissue containment systems used during laparoscopic power morcellation are intended to isolate and contain tissue that is considered benign. Based on bench and animal testing, use of a containment system confines morcellated tissue within the containment system.

At what size should fibroids be removed?

Most experts believe that about 9-10 centimeters (about 4 inches) diameter is the largest size fibroid that should be removed laparoscopically.

What happens if fibroids are not removed?

Fibroids Get Worse With Time If left untreated, fibroids can continue to grow, both in size and number. As these tumors take over the uterus the symptoms will become worse. The fibroids pain will increase. The heavy bleeding will become heavier and it may be accompanied by severe cramping.

What is hysteroscopy with morcellation?

Hysteroscopic morcellation is an alternative procedure to hysteroscopic resection for the removal of endometrial polyps and fibroids. There are currently two systems in use, Myosure® and Truclear™.

Is in bag morcellation safe?

Tissue morcellation during laparoscopic hysterectomy carries the risk of spreading cells from unsuspected malignancy. Contained morcellation inside a bag is supposed to minimize this risk.

What are the main causes of fibroids?

What causes fibroids?

  • Hormones. Estrogen and progesterone are the hormones produced by the ovaries.
  • Family history. Fibroids may run in the family.
  • Pregnancy. Pregnancy increases the production of estrogen and progesterone in your body.

When to use a laparoscopic power morcellator for uterine surgery?

Laparoscopic power morcellators are contraindicated for removal of uterine tissue containing suspected fibroids in patients who are post-menopausal or over 50 years of age, or candidates for en bloc tissue removal, for example, through the vagina or via a mini-laparotomy incision

Can a power morcellator be used for occult cancer?

Tell patients about the risk of occult cancer (cancer that cannot be identified during pretreatment evaluation) and inform them that use of laparoscopic power morcellators during fibroid surgery may spread cancer and decrease their long-term survival.

When does the FDA final guidance come out for power morcellators?

Final Guidance: Product Labeling for Laparoscopic Power Morcellators On December 29, 2020, the FDA issued a final guidance, Product Labeling for Laparoscopic Power Morcellators, providing recommendations concerning the content and format for certain labeling information to better inform patients and health care providers of the device’s risks.

When is it appropriate to perform only contained morcellation?

In addition, the FDA recommends that when morcellation is appropriate, only contained morcellation be performed. One strategy to mitigate this risk is to use a tissue containment system during laparoscopic power morcellation procedures. The containment system is intended to isolate and contain tissue that is considered benign.