Thousands of Transvaginal Mesh Implants under Investigation
Pittman, Dutton & Hellums, P.C. is currently representing women across the country that have transvaginal mesh (TVM) (often referred to as pelvic mesh, vaginal mesh, bladder slings or transvaginal mesh patches) and were injured as a result of being implanted with this product. TVM are woven mesh implants that stretch across the vaginal wall to support damaged tissue or prolapsed organs. The surgical mesh implant, which is made of woven mesh fibers, is used to treat both Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) in women. These implants have led to serious complications like infection, pain, urinary problems and bowel, bladder and blood-vessel perforations. Women experiencing complications have been forced to undergo additional surgery to correct these complications, and very often, TVM complications leads to permanent injury and pain.
TVM is mainly used for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse, which occurs when a woman’s uterus, bladder or rectum slip out of place, and stress urinary incontinence. Unfortunately, thousands of women have suffered serious complications and painful injuries following this surgical procedure.
TVM Complications and Side Effects
According to the Food and Drug Administration and reported adverse events, transvaginal surgical mesh side effects include:
| Hemorrhage | Infection |
| Chronic Pain | Urinary problems |
| Pelvic pain | Bleeding |
| Recurrence of prolapse and/or incontinence | Mesh shrinkage or migration |
| Scar tissue formation | Dysuria (painful urination) |
| Dyspareunia (painful sexual relations) | Neuropathic pain |
| Granuloma formation | Vaginal scarring |
| Mesh erosion into vagina, bladder, intestines and uterus | Perforations (holes) in the bowel, bladder or blood vessels |
| Fistulas | |
| Other problems that led to a significant decrease in quality of life due to discomfort and pain. | |
The failure of the mesh products can also lead to the need for multiple operations to remove the mesh and to repair extensive damage caused by the mesh. In many cases the mesh cannot be completely removed, permanently compromising a woman's health.
Manufacturers under Investigation
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**The FDA indicates that Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, American Medical Systems, Cook, Codidien, and C.R. Bard’s products have caused the vast majority of adverse events.
