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Women who’ve had pelvic organ prolapse surgery in the past have been alarmed to hear reports recently about the health risks associated with transvaginal mesh. During July of 2011, the FDA issued a new safety report on the matter, titled “Serious Complications Associated with Transvaginal Placement of Surgical Mesh in Repair of Pelvic Organ Prolapse”, which concludes that the medical device can result in dangerous and long-term harm to women. As for any major medical device failure, a huge amount of information – some accurate and some not – is circulating on the web. Vaginal mesh lawyer sites, health blogs and medical resources all have differing information about transvaginal mesh and its impacts on patients. This article will summarize the facts, straight from the extended version of the FDA’s report.
This most recent safety recommendation came on the heels of an earlier warning in 2008. The new alert indicates that the health risks associated with transvaginal mesh implantation to treat pelvic organ prolapse are in fact far more common than the agency had previously realized. The three-year period between 2008 and 2010 saw a five-fold increase in the number of reports of vaginal mesh adverse events. Women are teaming up with surgical mesh lawyers to seek compensation for the side effects they have suffered as a result of the device.
The 2010 FDA report singled out “mesh erosion” or “extrusion” as the foremost complaint against transvaginal mesh. When the mesh erodes, it can either protrude from the vaginal wall or actually break off and become lodged somewhere else in the body. As a result of the use of vaginal mesh, women suffer from extreme vaginal pain, heavy bleeding, infection, and even damage to nearby organs. Patients experiencing these symptoms require one or more surgeries to remove the mesh; in one extreme case, a woman has had a dozen surgeries and is still suffering side effects from the vaginal mesh sling manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.
Following pelvic organ prolapse repair surgery, the FDA report says you should be sure to continue to attend follow-up doctor’s appointments, inquire with your surgeon as to whether a pelvic sling made of vaginal mesh was used in your surgery, and report any health problems you may be having to your doctor. If you think there is a link between symptoms you are experiencing and pelvic organ prolapse surgery, contact a vaginal mesh lawyer for a free consultation to learn about your legal rights. Finally, if you are suffering no side effects, don’t worry. Many women do not experience problems related to surgical mesh implantation.
If pelvic organ prolapse repair surgery has been recommended to you, be sure to inquire as to the method of repair. The most recent FDA report concluded that surgeons and patients should consider alternative means of repair whenever possible. The use of transvaginal mesh does not offer any clear advantages over other repair methods, but may pose a significant risk. If you do decide to use transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse repair, be aware that surgical mesh implantation is permanent and can lead to life-long health problems.
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