Surgery and Revision

For women with pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence, transvaginal mesh was hailed as the answer to alternative treatments such as traditional surgery that tightened ligaments and muscles. Transvaginal mesh, a surgical mesh that was used to support weakened pelvic muscles to keep internal organs in place and prevent involuntary urination, was said to be a faster and easier solution than the traditional surgical procedure. Unfortunately, it soon became clear that transvaginal mesh was creating more problems than it solved.

For women who have experienced some of the many potential complications associated with transvaginal mesh (TVM), additional medical intervention is always necessary. In almost all cases, this medical intervention takes the form of at least one repeat surgery to attempt to remove the mesh and to subsequently solve the underlying health problems causing the pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence.

The revision or repeat surgical procedures can be painful and expensive and, unfortunately, even then may not fully correct the health issues caused by TVM. Someone needs to pay for the financial and emotional costs of these revision surgeries and it should be the manufacturer that released the dangerous transvaginal mesh products. An experienced Boston transvaginal mesh lawyer at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyer can help you to hold the manufacturer accountable.

Transvaginal mesh products cause many problems that result from the mesh eroding or protruding beyond the intended location. Chronic pain, acute pain especially during intercourse, recurrent pelvic organ prolapse and infection are just some of the potential medical problems that can arise. When a problem arises, an additional surgical procedure called a revision procedure may be required.

A revision procedure can be used in order to reposition a bladder sling that is not in the proper location and that is extruding or causing other health issues. Sometimes, bladder slings may need to be repositioned in a revision surgery within just days of the original procedure. However, you normally will need to undergo weeks or even months of discomfort as your physician monitors how your transvaginal mesh sling is working to improve your health condition and formulating a plan for how to proceed with the revision. In some cases, and especially for those who are suffering from pelvic organ prolapse, keeping the transvaginal mesh may not be possible at all.

When the revision procedure or removal procedure finally occurs, it is not very easy to move or remove the existing transvaginal mesh product nor is it a simple matter to place a new bladder sling in the correct location.

Transvaginal mesh has fine pieces of filament that can fuse with your body’s organs and tissues. The mesh, especially if it is eroding, may be in multiple locations in the pelvic region and may have become intertwined with your body, further complicating removal.

The removal of the mesh can be very painful and it is almost impossible to achieve full removal of the fine mesh in a single surgery. Typically, at least three to four procedures are required to remove the mesh, which is designed to be permanent. Some women report having many more surgeries and others indicate that the mesh and corrective procedures caused complications including hematoma that necessitated blood transfusions.

The surgical procedure to remove the mesh can require the physician to carefully excise tissue surrounding the mesh, actually removing surrounding tissue. Stitches are often required. Once the removal process is complete, then the physician will still need to provide a cure for the underlying prolapse. More and more, doctors are using the traditional method of strengthening the muscles with no mesh, since this method of treatment does not carry the serious risk of complications that goes along with TVM.

If you have had to undergo revision surgery because of complications due to transvaginal mesh products, you need to take legal action so you aren’t left with the crippling costs of ongoing medical care. The manufacturer of the dangerous TVM should also compensate you for pain and suffering and other losses. The transvaginal mesh lawyers at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers are here to help you get the compensation you deserve.