Women may experience stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse (POP) as a result of pelvic muscles and tissues weakening from childbirth, menopause, or surgeries. A pelvic organ prolapse (POP) occurs when the pelvic muscles are no longer able to support pelvic organs like the bladder, urethra, and bladder. One or more of these organs may then fall or drop forward into the vaginal wall. Severe forms of POP may be treated with surgery. Vaginal meshes were hailed as an improved solution to traditional non-mesh surgery because they reduce the risk of recurrence. Unfortunately, they also cause more post-treatment complications and side effects.
Each year, thousands of women have corrective surgery to repair POP. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received a significant number of complaints that have resulted from the use of transvaginal mesh and vaginal slings. In July 2011, the FDA warned of increased risk of serious and painful complications associated with transvaginal surgical meshes.
Identified Problems with Surgical or Pelvic Mesh Implants
Complications arising from transvaginal mesh implants include mesh failure, infection, vaginal pain, urinary problems, pelvic pain, erosion of the mesh into the vagina, hardening of the vaginal mesh, injury to nearby organs, and difficulty during sex. Additional side effects from the mesh implants may include bleeding and pain; erosion through vaginal epithelium; recurrence of prolapse and/or incontinence; bowel, bladder, and blood vessel perforation; and dyspareunia (pain during intercourse).
Manufacturers of Surgical or Pelvic Mesh Implants with Reported Problems
In 2008, the FDA warned about possible complications with vaginal mesh surgeries, but noted that these complications were rare. Then, between 2008 and 2010, the agency received five times as many reports of vaginal mesh problems as they had between 2005 and 2007. At the same time, new studies emerged highlighting the risks of complications, including mesh erosion into the vagina or other organs, scar tissue formation, infections, pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, and recurrence of prolapse.
The following is a list of vaginal mesh implant manufacturers whose products have reported problems:
Gynecare Prolift/EthiconSome patients have reported persistent or recurring pain caused by the Gynecare Prolift Pelvic Floor System. The most common complaint among Gynecare Prolift Pelvic Floor System patients is mesh erosion. When the Gynecare mesh is surgically inserted, the patient may suffer from trauma caused by bladder, bowel and blood vessel perforation. This trauma is believed to be the cause of vaginal mesh erosion. Patients also complain that the Gynecare complications cause pain before, during, or after sexual intercourse, otherwise known as dyspareunia. Patients also report the surgical insertion of the Gynecare Prolift has led to serious infection. Infection could be caused by bladder, bowel and blood vessel perforation. Also, the vaginal mesh may be blocking tissue from absorbing nutrients and oxygen, which impairs healing and eventually leads to infection. Infection can lead to death, which makes this the most serious of the Gynecare complications. As a result, these patients often have the Gynecare mesh surgically removed. In July 2011, the FDA issued an updated Gynecare mesh FDA warning stating that complications with vaginal mesh are not rare, and that it is unclear if POP repair with products like Gynecare Prolift is better than traditional non-mesh repair. The FDA warned physicians to be aware of the risks, and to tell their patients that some of the complications may not be reparable even with additional surgeries. The Gynecare Prolift is manufactured by Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. A multi-district Gynecare lawsuit is now underway, but injured parties must respond before their claims expire, the date of which depends on the brand of vaginal mesh used in their situation.
Additional manufacturers that the FDA has received reports regarding complications from transvaginal mesh implants or slings include: Boston Scientific, Caldera, Sofradium, Tyco, C.R. Bard Avaulta, American Medical Systems, and Mentor Corporation.
Your Legal Options
Our defective medical device attorneys are currently evaluating cases concerning defective vaginal mesh implants, including the Gynecare Prolift Pelvic Floor Repair System. If you or a loved one has received a Gynecare mesh implant, one of the implants listed above, or a failed vaginal mesh implant leading to pain or other complications, including revision surgery, please contact us through this simple form or our toll-free number, 800-598-0314.
