Gastric or Bariatric Surgery Injuries Due to Defective Surgical Staplers

Surgical staples are used in bariatric and gastric surgeries in place of sutures to connect or remove internal tissue and organs. They’re also used externally to quickly close high-tension wounds. Staples are applied by a medical professional with a disposable or reusable stapler.

In March 2019, the FDA announced a plan to review and address the safety of surgical staples and staplers intended for internal use after receiving more than 41,000 adverse event reports. The reports include deaths, serious injuries, and malfunctions.

In May 2019, the FDA announced a Class I recall of over 92,000 surgical staplers manufactured by the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, Ethicon Inc.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury after gastric or bariatric surgery that may be due to a defective surgical stapler, contact one of our Minnesota Defective Product lawyers. Our team will handle your case and make sure you are represented fairly.

Case Quick Facts

The Problem

In March 2019, the FDA stated it had received more than 41,000 adverse event reports associated with surgical staplers and internal staples. These reports from January 2011 to March 2018 detail 366 deaths, more than 9,000 serious injuries, and over 32,000 malfunctions related to surgical staples. Some of the most commonly reported problems include:

applying staples to the wrong tissue
using the wrong staple size
problems with firing or failure of the stapler to fire the staple
opening of the staple line or malformation of staples

The FDA has created a sweeping plan to address the safety of surgical staplers, which may mean requiring stricter product reviews of the staplers.

In May 2019, the FDA recalled over 92,000 surgical staplers manufactured by Ethicon, Inc. and warned that the staplers can cause serious injuries or death.

The Injuries

Stapler malfunctions or misuse can cause severe injuries, including:

bleeding
sepsis
tearing of tissues and organs
increased risk of cancer recurrence
death
need for additional surgeries
need for a permanent “ostomy bag”
chronic digestive issues

These injuries most commonly occur after use in gastric or bariatric surgeries.

GoldenbergLaw Can Help

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury after a gastric or bariatric surgery that may be due to a defective surgical stapler, please contact GoldenbergLaw. We deliver the Gold standard advocacy you deserve.

Do I Qualify?

FDA Class I Recall

On May 16, 2019, the FDA announced a Class I recall of over 92,000 surgical staplers manufactured and distributed between March 2018 and March 2019. All of the recalled products were manufactured by Ethicon, Inc. In issuing the recall, the FDA warned that the products can cause “serious patient harm or death” and can lead to deadly infections such as sepsis, chronic digestive issues, need for additional surgeries, and number of other serious complications.

The FDA recall notice specifically lists surgeons who have performed gastrointestinal surgeries and patients who have undergone gastrointestinal surgery as those who may be affected by the recall.

Defective Surgical Stapler Lawsuit FAQs

What are surgical staplers used for?

What are some symptoms caused by defective surgical staplers?

Firing malformed staplers can cause serious internal damage. Some of these injuries include bleeding, sepsis, tearing of tissues and organs, increased risk of cancer recurrence, and death. These injuries most commonly occur after use in gastric or bariatric surgeries.

Do I have a defective surgical stapler case?

If you or someone you know has suffered a serious injury after a gastric or bariatric surgery that may be due to a defective surgical stapler, contact one of our lawyers at GoldenbergLaw for a free consultation. Our team will handle your case and make sure you are represented fairly.

Free Consultations

Reach out to our surgical stapler injury lawyers for a free consultation. We will take a look at your case and help you to weigh your options. There is no charge and there is no obligation.

Why Choose GoldenbergLaw?

When it comes to gastric or bariatric surgery injury lawsuits, our team at GoldenbergLaw is ready to help you get the compensation that you deserve. We have spent years working on a variety of drug and medical related cases, and we have a passion for helping out those facing injustice.