Transvaginal Mesh

The Nature of the Device: Transvaginal mesh is a plastic insert that is installed after a hysterectomy, after menopause, or after childbirth. The mesh is inserted transvaginally, or through an incision in the abdomen. The product is typically made of polypropylene plastic; several companies manufacture it.

The most common reason for a mesh implant is to correct weakened pelvic muscles, a condition that can cause pelvic-organ prolapse (POP). Women also have the implant for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), which weakened pelvic muscles also cause. Pelvic-organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence are common problems after a hysterectomy, menopause, or childbirth.

The Hazards of Transvaginal Mesh: The greatest hazard is mesh erosion: the implant can wear away abdominal tissue or even penetrate the abdomen. In the latter case the implant slips into the vagina, where it can cause infection or painful sexual intercourse. Mesh can also erode the urinary tract, leading to urinary-tract infection or incontinence.

Organ perforation of the bladder, urethra, or rectum is another hazard of transvaginal mesh. Organ perforation can occur during surgery, or afterward if the mesh either erodes or loosens and moves inside a woman’s body. Infection and difficulty breathing are common side effects of organ perforation; and perforated organs can leak urine and other fluids into the body, causing infection or even death from septic shock. A serious case of organ perforation almost always requires surgery.
Mesh-implant recipients have also experienced urinary incontinence, abdominal and pelvic pain, and neuropathic pain. And the device’s usefulness may be inferior to that of other surgical options.

Multiple surgeries are often required to remove a transvaginal-mesh implant and repair the damage that it has caused. Because of that and other health problems linked to the mesh, many women have filed lawsuits.

To Obtain Legal Relief: If you have had a transvaginal-mesh implant and been injured by it, you may have valuable legal rights. Attorney Stephen A. Katz is available at (800) 251-3529 for a free consultation, or for legal representation.