Many women who have suffered from a weakened pelvic floor have undergone surgery using transvaginal mesh in order to either repair or support weak tissues, to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and repair pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Unfortunately, the use of this mesh has been associated with a high-incidence of mesh-related complications that have hurt or injured many women over the years.
The most common complication reported has been when the mesh erodes through the vaginal tissue, causing the mesh to protrude from the vagina. In some cases, the woman may feel a lump in the vaginal opening and this may require multiple surgeries, which are not always successful. Other commons complications or injuries include painful sexual intercourse, a recurrence of the pelvic organ prolapse (POP), puncture of the bladder, intestines, or bowels, contraction of the mesh, urinary incontinence or leakage, vaginal bleeding, vaginal scarring, frequent drainage or discharges from the vagina, or simply chronic pelvic or vaginal pain. These types of complications are all too common and result in drastic reductions in quality of life for patients of a surgical procedure that was meant to help them.
These transvaginal mesh kits have been used for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) since their FDA approval in 1996, and for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) since their approval in 2002. But due to the rising amount of injuries or complications, sometimes less than a year after undergoing surgery, the FDA issued an updated safety communication in 2011, noting that not only was there an increased risk of serious complications but also no clinical evidence of a greater benefit like improved quality of life thanks to transvaginal mesh implants. The FDA also noted that these complications were not rare, unfortunately.
The complications arising from transvaginal mesh surgery can make it painful for women to walk, sit, or have sexual intercourse. Many women may have to undergo surgery to remove the mesh, but those complications may not be reversed, thus leaving women to continue to suffer with an impaired quality of life as a result. These long-term consequences go beyond simple pain and suffering, and often lead to emotional distress, lost wages from time off work, an inability to have sexual relations, expenses for surgery and hospital visits, and even loss of intimacy or damage to their marriage.
These damages and complications are obviously devastating for many women, but what can you do if you’ve been injured by a transvaginal mesh? In some cases, you may be able to recover compensation for things such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and future medical expenses. Both doctors and the device manufacturer could possibly be held liable for the damages that you’ve suffered, but it is imperative that you work with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to take advantage of all that could be offered to you.
The team at Fears Nachawati understands the frustration and anguish felt by those who have suffered from a surgical procedure that was meant to help them, whose consequences or complications they were never warned about, and we are fully prepared to help victims recover from this devastating blow. Our law firm is one of the leading firms in the great state of Texas for medical malpractice and surgery claims and we are ready to fight for you.
If you or a loved one has suffered severe injury or complications as a result of a transvaginal mesh procedure, then the legal team at Fears Nachawati is here to help you hold the responsible parties accountable. Contact our experienced team today for a free, no obligation legal consultation to discuss the specifics of your case. Please call (866) 705-7584 or visit the offices of Fears Nachawati located throughout the great state of Texas, including in Houston, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, and San Antonio.