A report in the Salt Lake Tribune concerns 50 Utah women who have joined thousands of plaintiffs nationwide in lawsuits against vaginal mesh manufacturers.
The report includes an interview with an unnamed Utah woman in her 50s who had the device implanted in order to treat a leaky bladder. Not only did the device fail to cure problems, but it also caused her constant pain in addition to frequent yeast and bladder infections.
The report quotes the woman, identified as “Lee,” as saying: “When they come out with a product and make it sound like a cure-all, I don’t know about other women, but I jumped at the chance to get it fixed … It just plain didn’t work.”
The mesh implants are used to treat pelvic organ prolapse, a condition that occurs when tissue and muscles weaken and allow the bladder and other reproductive organs to slip into the vagina. It’s also used to treat stress urinary incontinence problems.
The report notes that the most frequent complications include device erosion; pain, including pain during sexual intercourse for both partners; infection; urinary and bowel problems; bleeding; and organ perforation. Between 2008 and 2010, the report notes, seven deaths were associated with pelvic mesh implants during placement surgery or as a result of organ perforation or bleeding.
The FDA first issued an alert about the devices in October 2008. In a report released last July, the agency referenced 2,874 reports filed between 2008 and 2010 of malfunction, injury and death related to the mesh implants, with reports increasing dramatically in recent years as use of the devices increased.
The patient identified as Lee said she began having problems within a year after her initial surgery, and that a subsequent operation failed to correct that problem. The Salt Lake Tribune says the removal procedure is much more difficult than the initial implantation because tissue often has grown around and into the mesh.
It quotes a lawyer involved with the case say saying: “One doctor who described it to me said it was like trying to remove chicken wire from concrete.”
If you’ve received a vaginal mesh implant, you should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns. If you have significant injuries, you should also consult with a mesh lawyer to discuss your legal rights.
See the story here:
https://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54436722-78/mesh-pelvic-problems-women.html.csp
