One of the dangers of transvaginal mesh devices, according to an article in The Trial Lawyer magazine, is that they typically can’t be removed once they’ve been implanted in a patient’s body.
This is bad news for the thousands of implant recipients who have reported problems including debilitating pain and organ perforation after the devices have started to erode. According to The Trial Lawyer, doctors can trim the devices and cauterize the wounds they cause. But outright removal is problematic.
The mesh implants are used to treat urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, which occurs when weakened muscles can no longer hold up the pelvic organs – usually because of childbirth. Neither condition is life-threatening, and safer alternative treatments are available.
One of the problems with the implants, according to the article, is that the mesh becomes permanently attached to the vaginal tissues and underlying ligaments.
The presence of a foreign body in their vaginal tissues makes implant recipients susceptible to bacterial infection, according to the article.
The implants were approved without clinical testing because of a loophole in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration process that requires approval of medical devices based on their alleged similarity to previously approved products. Mesh implants were originally used to treat hernia – placed in a different part of the body by a different process. And the implants were approved despite the fact that an earlier version was pulled from the market because of safety concerns.
If you have 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.
