Our firm is investigating cases in which women have been injured by Transvaginal Mesh (sometimes referred to as Vaginal Mesh) and sling products. Please be aware of the following injuries and side effects:
- Need for further surgery or treatment;
- Erosion of vaginal tissue;
- Infection;
- Recurrence of Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP);
- Recurrence of Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI);
- Erosion of the mesh;
- Perforations (holes) in the bowel, bladder or blood vessels;
- Scarring of the vaginal tissues
Transvaginal meshes are implanted through surgery. According to the FDA, contributing factors to complications potentially include the patient's health, mesh material, the size and shape of the mesh, surgical procedures and estrogen levels.
A 2011 study released by the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada (JOGC) on TVM procedures stated, "Until adequate effectiveness and safety evidence is available, the use of new TVM devices for prolapse repair should be considered experimental and restricted to use in investigative trials."
From 2005 to 2010, there have been more than 3,875 injuries reported to the FDA following the placement of a transvaginal mesh device. In 2011, the FDA warned healthcare providers of the risks associated with the use of transvaginal mesh and recommended they consider alternative treatments. The transvaginal mesh is a type of medical device used to treat Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), conditions that may occur after childbirth and pregnancy.
In an article published in an August 2010 issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers reported that scientists had to stop a transvaginal mesh clinical study early because women implanted with the mesh experienced too many complications. In the trial, which began in 2007, 65 women with prolapse underwent either surgery using the vaginal mesh or a procedure known as colpopexy that uses ligaments to help support the muscles. The trial was cut short in 2009 after researchers found that over 15 percent of the women implanted with the mesh suffered within a period of only three months from vaginal mesh erosion, a potentially serious complication involving the protrusion of the mesh when the skin splits.
In October 2008, the FDA issued a public health notification alerting healthcare providers and the public about the increasing number of serious health issues associated with the transvaginal mesh. Reported complications include mesh from nine different manufacturers.
If you or someone you know suffer from injuries from Transvaginal mesh, contact Tauber Westland & Bennett for a free consultation.
