Surgical Mesh Problems
Defective Transvaginal Surgical Mesh and Vaginal Mesh Erosion Problems
Surgical mesh is a type of polymeric screen that is implanted through surgery, to support tissue or bones that have become weak. Since the 1950s, this type of mesh was used for hernia treatment. Approximately 20 years later, gynecologists started using surgical mesh to treat vaginal tissues that needed reinforcing and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). It was only in the 1990s that doctors started choosing vaginal surgical mesh or transvaginal mesh to treat the problem of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). While the product has been effective there have arisen a number of surgical mesh problems arising from the use of defective vaginal mesh resulting in vaginal mesh erosion and other bladder mesh surgical complications.
To start out with, surgical mesh products were not officially approved and available. Surgeons typically cut the mesh (metallic or polymeric) themselves to perform procedures. As manufacturers began identifying the need for surgical mesh, it was developed to meet medical standards and growing demand. There are different kinds of surgical mesh in use today:
• Surgical mesh made from animal tissues
• Synthetic surgical mesh of the absorbable kind
• Polyester or polypropylene surgical mesh that is non-absorbable – this is the most common type of vaginal mesh in use for female stress incontinence and other surgeries.
Recently, a lot of attention has been focused on the post-surgical complications that are arising from the use of surgical mesh. The problems appear to be centered round surgical mesh used for pelvic problem surgeries when it was designed for abdominal use. Testing of the suitability and safety of surgical mesh prior to receiving FDA approval is essential in the medical field.
The FDA has put out a statement to admit its error in stating publicly that mesh surgery complications are rare. There are thousands of cases of surgical mesh problems that have come to light. These cases revolve round SUI and POP surgeries performed using surgical mesh. It is estimated that approximately half a million or more women undergo surgery where bladder mesh is used in the process.
By FDA estimation, the spike in surgical vaginal mesh erosion problems occurs in approximately 10 percent of the women that undergo surgery within a year of said surgery. The original surgery is then followed by several other surgeries to remove the mesh. Problems that arise include vaginal mesh erosion referred to as protrusion or extrusion; infection, pain, organ perforation, bleeding, vaginal scarring, urinary problems, recurrent prolapse, neuro-muscular problems, emotional problems and dyspareunia (sexual intercourse problems). Almost all of the problems require further medical intervention and treatment; sometimes hospitalization and surgical treatment, which sadly does not always resolve the problem.
Approximately 80 percent or more of the stress incontinence surgeries are treated by inserting the transvaginal mesh through vaginal incision. The mesh in the form of a bladder sling, serves the purpose of elevating and supporting the bladder in bladder suspension surgery. Commonly experienced problems include pain, bladder obstruction and mesh exposure. The FDA is reviewing the use of vaginal mesh patch in surgeries and the surgical mesh problems that have arisen. The organization is also reviewing data on the use of mesh specifically in stress incontinence surgeries. One example of surgical mesh problems is Mersiline, an old brand of synthetic mesh. The mesh was formed into a sling and used in stress incontinence surgeries. Studies show that the vaginal mesh erosion occurs approximately in 8% of all cases, which requires further surgery to remove the defective mesh.
One of the common treatments for SUI surgical mesh erosion problems is to remove the surgical vaginal mesh by performing another surgery and then sewing up the damaged vaginal tissues. A number of vaginal mesh lawsuits such as the infamous kugel mesh lawsuit are now working their way through the courts in class action suits.
Bladder Mesh Surgery Complications
Defective Bladder Mesh and Incontinence Surgery
By J McAdams
Bladder mesh or transvaginal mesh is used for surgical procedures for urinary incontinence, a pelvic disorder that affects millions of women worldwide. Female urinary incontinence happens when the pelvic floor muscles become weak allowing the pelvic organs including the bladder to descend from the normal location leading to diminishing bladder control. This urine stress incontinence causes the leakage of urine and decreases the ability to retain urine for a long period of time. This incontinence is treated with various options including surgical procedures using bladder mesh. One of the widely used procedures involves bladder sling placement or bladder suspension surgery which helps prevent urine leaks from the bladder.
When the problem of urinary incontinence fails to be successfully treated with medication, bladder mesh surgery is an option. It generally provides a long term, but not a permanent solution to the problem. Once the decision to undergo surgery has been made, the next question is which type of surgery will be best. There are different surgeries to fix the problem of incontinence. Bladder mesh surgery or sling surgery is often the common choice, it makes use of a mesh to act as sling to lift the bladder and keep it in position and prevent the urine from leaking out.
Over the last few years there have been over 1000 adverse effects reported and patient complaints about bladder mesh by those who have had the surgery. Many women have complained of adverse complications arising from the transvaginal mesh procedures done after a specific period. These reports and complains include pain, bladder mesh erosion, infections and even recurrence of urinary incontinence. Some bladder mesh complications include serious intra-operative injuries to the bladder. Such complications have often needed surgical or medical intervention. Unfortunately, manufacturers of these bladder mesh products were collectively found responsible for these problems.
It is due to this reason that transvaginal mesh lawsuits have started with attorneys providing legal advice and help to patients who have undergone these bladder problems after bladder mesh surgery. Some bladder sling products in the market have been of questionable quality and according to various health reports, they have been associated with most of these complaints. Professional lawyers are helping many patients file lawsuits that eventually result in compensation from the defective bladder mesh product manufacturers. Filing lawsuits involves extensive consultation with an attorney from a law firm. These consultations are often free of charge as the attorneys will receive a percentage of the settlement from the manufacturer.
There are several ongoing defective transvaginal mesh lawsuits involving women who have suffered injuries as a result of some defective vaginal mesh patch products for incontinence surgery on the market. Several law firms are dedicated to providing legal help to such women. Their lawyers investigate and try to find out if the mesh products in question meet the safety standards. Health notification concerns have often been reported in the use of some defective bladder mesh products in the market. Some transvaginal mesh manufacturers, though aware of such concerns, fail to disclose or warn of the significant risks in the use of those products.
Pelvic mesh is often permanently attached to the inside of the pelvis and using the wrong one in incontinence surgery often leads to catastrophic results in patients. In some cases the mesh cannot be completely removed once attached and this compromises a woman’s health. With lawsuits against manufacturers of defective bladder mesh products, women are able to get fair compensation for the bladder mesh surgical complications, suffering or damages caused. It is important to contact these law firms that specialize in these lawsuits because the statutes of limitations often restrict the time frame in which you may be able to pursue your compensation claims.
You can find more information here from the FDA on the complications associated with transvaginal placement of surgical mesh in repair of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.
J McAdams is the author of this article on Bladder Sling Lawsuits.
Find more information on Bladder Sling Recall here.
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