The Serious Risks Of Vaginal Mesh Implants
January 22nd, 2012
Used by many doctors for the surgical management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), vaginal mesh surgery is very well known worldwide. Old women who have had hysterectomies and menopause are most likely to be affected by these conditions; also, women who have had vaginal deliveries may also be exposed.
In women, pelvic organs like the bladder, urethra, uterus, and rectum are kept in place by the vaginal wall which is supported by a series of connective tissues. In the medical condition Pelvic Organ Prolapse, any of these pelvic organs shift out of place due to the loosening of the connective tissues that support the vaginal wall. SUI can occur if the muscles in the pelvic are becomes weak. SUI is the involuntary leaking of urine from the bladder which is mostly caused by reflex movements like coughing and sneezing; physical exertions like heavy-lifting also cause SUI.
This procedure is still widely used by physicians today even after the announcement made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about its potential risks. The FDA further states that the use of vaginal mesh can create negative consequences. According to the reports made by the FDA, thousands of complaints about the dangerous effects of this medical device were recorded.
Among the many reported complications are mesh erosion, bleeding, infection, pain, pelvic organ perforations, and recurrence of prolapse.
Among the mentioned complications, the most usual to occur is mesh erosion; it is sometimes referred to as mesh extrusion, protrusion, or exposure. This can result from a poorly recovered incision leading to the bulging out of the mesh from the vagina. A feeling of tightness or a pulling sensation is initially felt by most patients. This can also lead to the development of other complications like bleeding, infection, pain, and foul-smelling vaginal discharges.
Pain occurs when the mesh does not fit too snuggly in the vagina. Frequently, it is manifested during prolonged positions especially in standing or sitting. Also, it can be felt by sexually active patients during intercourse. This condition is called dyspareunia.
Pelvic organ perforations and bleeding occur mostly during the operation. This can be related to the mishandling of medical tools.
Infections can progress if the incisions recovery is very slow. Doing strenuous exercises and eating unhealthy foods can lead to the slow recovery of the surgical incision. Infections related to the implantation of vaginal mesh poses great danger, so careful monitoring during the recovery period is very important.
Majority of the vaginal meshes available in the market today does not permanently treat POP or SUI, so the possibility of these two conditions to recur is great. These deadly complications caused the rising number of lawsuits filed against mesh manufacturers on all sides of the United States recently.
These vaginal mesh problems may require a number of operations to repair, and sometimes recovery can be unattainable and can cause death. With these alarming reports, the FDA issued an announcement to all medical providers to consider non-mesh procedures first before deciding on vaginal mesh surgery.
References:
http://www.foote-meyers.com/press-room/details/fda-surgical-placement-of-mesh-to-repair-pelvic-organ-prolapse-poses-risks
http://www.empowher.com/sexual-well-being/content/vaginal-mesh-erosion-part-2?page=0,0
http://www.seegerweiss.com/transvaginal-mesh-and-bladder-slings/
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