Medical mesh implants can be used to treat a few conditions, both in men and in women. One type of mesh is used to treat hernias, with surgeons relying on mesh to help keep hernias from recurring and to help reduce surgery time. Over 90% of groin hernias utilize surgical mesh to repair the condition.
Women who have a condition known as pelvic organ prolapse, a complication of pregnancy and stress urinary incontinence, vaginal mesh may be used to treat these conditions. In 10% of patients, the women who have received these mesh implants have had intense pain and some have had to undergo additional painful surgeries to remove the vaginal mesh.
Although these mesh implants are used to treat two very different conditions, the side effects that people have been suffering are similar. Here’s a look at some of the different mesh implants and the side effects that patients have reported.
Hernia Mesh Complications
- Infection
- Bowel Obstruction
- Organ Perforation
- Pain
- Implant Migration
- Adhesion or scar-like tissue that sticks together
Vaginal Mesh Complications
- Infection, pain, discomfort, and allergic reaction at the surgery site
- Difficulty urinating, incontinence, inability to control urination
- Pain doing everyday activities, pain during urination, and pain during sexual intercourse
- Perforation of organs and mesh migrating into nearby tissue
- Recurrent pelvic organ prolapse
Current litigation is regarding complications that patients who have had their mesh products implanted have suffered.
Hernia Mesh Recalls
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled several mesh products over the past few years. One of the first that the FDA recalled was a hernia mesh in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The mesh was found to cause complications like bowel perforation and a complication called enteric fistula. Enteric fistula occurs when two unrelated organs become physically connected.
Transvaginal Mesh Timeline
Between 2005 and 2010, the FDA received thousands of reports from women who were experiencing complications regarding their transvaginal mesh products. They reclassified transvaginal mesh products from Class II to Class III, which requires pre-market approval for any transvaginal mesh products going forward.
Millions of dollars for certain side effects have been awarded to plaintiffs who have suffered, and some companies have been charged with punitive damages – meaning that the jury determined that the company acted in a malicious way with disregard for patient safety.
If you have had a transvaginal mesh implant that is causing you pain, speak with one of our attorneys immediately. You may be eligible for compensation. Contact us today at Toll Free: 515-316-6179, Local: 515-316-6179.