Surgical mesh is used to treat pelvic organ prolapse (slippage out of place of the uterus or bladder) and stress urinary incontinence in women purportedly by strengthening the vaginal tissue. Yet, for several years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received thousands of reports involving patients in whom surgical mesh was implanted who subsequently suffered from multiple complications, including, but not limited to, infection, pain, urinary problems, recurrence of prolapsed, incontinence, bowel and bladder perforation, and vaginal scarring. Many patients require hospitalization and surgical treatment, in part to remove the surgical mesh. According to the FDA, in 2010 alone, at least 100,000 pelvic organ prolapsed repairs used surgical mesh and each year the number of adverse side effects are increasing. In the FDA’s July 13, 2011 Release, the FCA further noted that there are very few, if any, peer-reviewed clinical studies to support the claim that the device improves pelvic organ prolapse, and, to the contrary, when implanted vaginally, it can expose the patients to many serious risks. As the FDA specifically noted, “with the exposure to greater risk comes no evidence of greater clinical benefit such as improved quality of life.”
If you use a surgical mesh and have been experiencing any adverse side effects, please contact us.