The use of vaginal mesh is popular to women who are exposed to Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), as many physicians are practicing the implantation of these medical devices worldwide.  But this popularity is yet to change after incidences of its negative effects were experienced by many recipients and reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently. In fact, there were thousands of negative cases reported, and this number is expected to climb even higher. To some, this may be shocking news; but the procedures used to test its safety were not adequate, hence explains these complications.  Based on the effective use of surgical mesh products in the treatment of hernia in the 1950’s, the production of vaginal mesh products come to birth.
 
Utilized decades earlier, surgical mesh procedures were done for the treatment of internal problems.  In 1970, it is first introduced for the repair of prolapsed pelvic organs.  Surgical mesh specially designed as vaginal implant does not exist yet during that time, so surgeons would just cut out the mesh fit for their patient’s anatomy each time they do the procedure.  Because of its increasing demands, makers of mesh designed mesh products suitable for vaginal use, and this has even led to the production of tools used to make implantation easier for doctors and enclosed them in kits.  But it was only in 1996 that vaginal mesh products were approved by the FDA. 

The approval system utilized to clear vaginal mesh products for public access is in question because the safety and effectiveness of the designed vaginal mesh items were not thoroughly assessed; They were approved providing that they are substantially equivalent to those surgical meshes that are already out in the market. The FDA announced in 2008 that complications of vaginal mesh products are mild and rare, but they withdrew their statement. In 2010, the FDA further made an announcement on the issues involving vaginal mesh implants and encouraged all health care professionals to actively participate in the investigation to better understand the risks brought by these procedures.  
The FDA estimates that 10% of those who had vaginal mesh procedures often develop adverse effects one year later after the procedure is done, and these patients are further exposed to more complicated situations since corrective procedures are seldom successful. Frequent concerns of recipients are mesh erosion, bleeding, infections, pain, dyspareunia, pelvic organ perforations, and recurrence of prolapse.With these dangerous complications, it is necessary to remove the mesh. However, this is a very painful and risky procedure since it involves taking a lot of pelvic tissues during the removal.  A vaginal mesh lawsuit can be filed by a recipient if she happens to acquire these negative consequences after a vaginal mesh implant. 

References:

http://www.surgicalmeshproblem.com/overview/pelvic-mesh-complications/

http://www.transvaginalmeshlawsuit.com/history-of-vaginal-mesh

http://www.groin-hernia.com/herniabible/surgery.html
 


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