Intergel is a liquid gel that is placed over the surgical area after open gynecological microsurgical procedures have been performed. Intergel is designed to decrease the risk of adhesions forming because of the surgery. However, Intergel has led to at least three deaths and almost 50 injuries, according to the FDA. Intergel has been voluntarily withdrawn from the market by its manufacturer, Gynecare, a Johnson and Johnson company.
What are some important things I should know about Intergel?
Intergel is no longer on the market, but women continue to suffer injuries because of the gel. Intergel was used to help prevent adhesions after gynecological surgeries. However, Intergel failed to prevent or in some cases worsened these adhesions in some women, leading to pain, infertility, bowel obstruction, repeat surgeries and death.
Intergel was used for women who had just undergone open gynecologic pelvic surgery. Intergel was placed over the surgical site after bleeding has stopped. Intergel was designed to help prevent adhesions.
Surgeries that result in adhesions can lead to repeat surgeries, pain, infertility and bowel obstruction injuries. Intergel is designed to reduce the chance of these post-surgical adhesions forming, especially after surgeries like:
- surgical treatment of endometriosis
- ovarian surgery
- myomectomy
- tubal surgery
Intergel, in some cases, led to an increased risk of adhesions or failed to prevent adhesions. According to the FDA, Intergel also led to further injury, including:
- late-onset pain after surgery
- repeat surgeries
- non-infectious foreign body reactions
- body tissue adhering to other tissue and causing complications
- excessive residue build-up at the surgical site
Intergel was not approved for laparoscopic surgery or any other procedures other than open gynecological microsurgical procedures. If it was used for these procedures, patients often experienced injury, and some died. Some attorneys believe these cases constitute medical malpractice and personal injury cases.
Because Intergel has been pulled off the market, most patients have undergone any follow-up procedures related to Intergel. However, because Intergel could lead to infertility and bowel obstruction injury, many Intergel patients are still experiencing symptoms associated with those complications. If you are experiencing bowel or pelvic pain, other discomfort, or infertility, contact your doctor and then contact a personal injury attorney.
