SURGICAL STAPLES LAWSUIT WHITEPAPER
About Surgical Staples Lawsuit
Surgical staples are medical devices used to close incisions after surgery. They are used as an alternative to stitches or sutures. Surgical staples do not dissolve like some stitches used after surgery, which means they must be removed by a medical professional.
The lawsuit against the manufacturer is due to injuries developed from malfunctions and infections caused by the surgical staples. There are multiple recalls against surgical staples including:
- April 2018: Covidien recalled two surgical staples for EEA Hemorrhoid and Prolapse Stapler Sets
- April 2018: Covidien recalled 40 GIA surgical stapler devices due to a “possible missing sled component”.
- May 2018: Covidien recalled 14 more Covidien GIA staplers for the same reason.
- August 2018: Covidien’s EEA Circular Stapler with Tri-Staple Technology was recalled due to “the potential for a device to have an incorrect tissue gap”.
- May 2019: An additional 12 recalls were made for the Covidien GIA staplers
- April 2019: The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) issued draft guidance regarding labeling surgical staples and staplers.
Surgical Staples Associated Injuries
Injuries being reported in the Surgical Staples lawsuits include:
- Internal bleeding
- Infections
- Organ damage
- Fistula
- Death
- Sepsis
- Cardiac arrest
- Digestive system damage
- Need for a permanent “ostomy bag.”
- Needing additional surgeries
Surgical Staples Status of Litigation
Although there are multiple developing lawsuits for surgical staples currently, it is still in the preliminary stages of litigation. There is no official MDL (Multi-district litigation) established for the consolidated cases at this time. There have been no verdicts or known settlements at this time.
Surgical Staples Manufacturer
The current manufacturers involved in the Surgical Staples lawsuit include(s) Johnson & Johnson, Ethicon, Medtronic, and Covidien.