Fatal Complications Of Vaginal Mesh Procedures
February 2nd, 2012Vaginal mesh surgery has been used worldwide by a great number of physicians for the repair of Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI). 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 a woman’s anatomy, pelvic organs such as the uterus, urethra, rectum, and bladder are fixed in position through the support of the vaginal wall which is covered by connective tissues. In POP, any of these pelvic organs are displaced because of the weakening of these tissues. SUI can occur if the muscles in the pelvic are becomes weak. This condition is when urine involuntarily leaks out of the bladder due to sudden movements like sneezing or coughing, and when the body exerts too much pressure like lifting heavy objects.
Many doctors are still doing vaginal mesh surgery to their patients despite the information given by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about its efficacy and safety. The agency pointed out that this medical device can lead to seriously debilitating side effects. In fact, thousands upon thousands of cases of negative events were reported to the FDA.
The most commonly reported negative effects after a vaginal mesh surgery are erosion of the mesh, development of infections, hemorrhage, perforations of the pelvic organs, pain, and recurrence of condition.
Mesh erosion, also called by other names like mesh exposure, extrusion, or protrusion, is the most frequently reported side effect of vaginal mesh. This happens when the incision line does not recover well, displacing the mesh out of the vagina. Initially, patients will feel a sensation of tightness or pulling inside the vagina. 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. It can also be felt during sexual intercourse. This condition is called dyspareunia.
Hemorrhage and perforations of the pelvic organs usually happen while the operation is going on. This can result when medical instruments are not used safely and effectively.
The development of infections occurs after the operation if the surgical wounds recover poorly. Doing strenuous exercises and eating unhealthy foods can lead to the slow recovery of the surgical incision. It is best to watch for signs of infection during the recovery phase of the surgery, because infections caused by vaginal mesh can be serious.
Most vaginal mesh materials do not last, so recurrence of prolapse is very possible. Complications like these have led many recipients of vaginal mesh to file lawsuits against many mesh manufacturers all over the United States.
A series of corrective procedures may be required to repair these vaginal mesh side effects; in some cases, they can be impossible to be repaired, and have even caused a few deaths. Because of this, the FDA made recommendations for physicians who are actively performing this surgery to examine the benefits of non-mesh procedure first before going through vaginal mesh implantations.
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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