Transvaginal Mesh Allegedly More Risky Than Alternative Treatments

Surgeries using transvaginal mesh implants may potentially be more risky than alternative procedures, according to online media sources. As a matter of fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on July 13, 2011 that pelvic organ prolapse (POP) patients implanted with a surgical mesh device may be at a greater risk of developing complications compared to those who pursue other methods of treatment. Based on various reports, mesh manufacturers allegedly neglected to inform their consumers regarding this FDA announcement. As a result, thousands of prolapse patients were allegedly injured.

 

Transvaginal mesh implants were first used for the treatment of hernias in the 1950s, after which they were utilized in vaginal repair procedures to treat gynecologic conditions, such as POP and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The devices tremendously grew in popularity in the 1990s, attracting medical device manufacturers to develop their own version of the transvaginal mesh implant. Ethicon, Inc., American Medical Systems, Inc., Boston Scientific Corp., Cook Medical, and C.R. Bard, Inc. are among the largest companies involved in the production of this medical device.  

 

Compared to transvaginal mesh implants, medical experts claim that some alternative treatments may prove to be less dangerous. According to a safety announcement released by the FDA in 2008, the agency received over a thousand reports of adverse effects related to transvaginal mesh devices. Since then, the number of reports has allegedly increased.

 

Over the years, transvaginal mesh devices have been linked to several complications. Some of these reported complications include mesh erosion, infection, organ perforation, and recurrent POP. Moreover, there have been reports of patients who needed to undergo additional procedures after developing the above complications. Consequently, a number of these individuals have pressed charges against the manufacturer of their mesh implants, claiming that the companies failed to properly warn them about the dangers of these devices.

 

For some, their transvaginal mesh implants have immensely helped them. Unfortunately, others claim that they have sustained permanent injuries after repeatedly undergoing corrective procedures. In fact, according to them, the device made things worse instead of treating them.

 

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