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Vaginal Mesh Erosion Lawsuit

Vaginal mesh erosion is the most common serious side effect of vaginal mesh. If you have suffered from this condition, you are not alone. Vaginal mesh can erode into and perforate the vagina, bladder, bowel, and blood vessels. Many women must have additional surgery and hospitalization, but even with multiple surgeries, the condition may be incurable. Vaginal mesh erosion can cause pelvic pain, scarring, disfigurement, and other complications that severely decrease quality of life for a woman and her husband.

What You Can Do & How a Vaginal Mesh Erosion Lawsuit Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting vaginal mesh erosion induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by vaginal mesh erosion, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

What is Vaginal Mesh?

Vaginal mesh (also known as “transvaginal mesh” or “pelvic mesh”) is a medical device that is implanted in the pelvis of women. It is a sling-like device that is used to support weakened muscles in the pelvis, which is a common complication of pregnancy. It is used to treat Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP), a condition when organs protrude into the vagina, and Stress Urinary Incontinence, a condition where weakened muscles allow the urethra to open accidentally.

Major manufacturers of vaginal mesh include:

  • C.R. Bard
  • Johnson & Johnson / Ethicon
  • Boston Scientific Corp.
  • Coloplast
  • American Medical Systems
  • Mentor

What is Vaginal Mesh Erosion?

Vaginal mesh erosion (also known as exposure, extrusion, or protrusion) is a complication of that occurs when the mesh wears through tissues and protrudes into the vagina or nearby organs. Vaginal erosion may be recurrent and severely decrease a woman’s quality of life. When vaginal mesh erodes into nearby organs (such as the colon, bladder, or blood vessels) this can cause perforation, sepsis, severe pain, and other complications. Most people who suffer from vaginal mesh erosion require hospitalization and surgery to have the mesh partially or completely removed. Patients may require IV therapy, blood transfusions, and drainage of hematomas or abscesses.

FDA Warning about Vaginal Mesh Erosion

On October 20, 2008, the FDA published a Public Health Notification after receiving more than 1,000 reports of serious vaginal mesh side effects. One of the most common side effects was vaginal mesh erosion.

After continuing to receive reports of severe vaginal mesh complications, on July 13, 2011, the FDA published a Safety Communication Update, warning that the risk of serious vaginal mesh complications was “not rare.” Furthermore, they warned that:

“Erosion of mesh through the vagina is the most common and consistent reported mesh-related complication from transvaginal POP surgeries using mesh. Mesh erosion can require multiple surgeries to repair and can be debilitating for some women. In some cases, even multiple surgeries will not resolve the complication.”

They also warned:

“Mesh erosion and mesh contraction may lead to severe pelvic pain, painful sexual intercourse or an inability to engage in sexual intercourse. Also, men may experience irritation and pain to the penis during sexual intercourse when the mesh is exposed in mesh erosion.”

Studies of Vaginal Mesh Erosion

This study from 2007 analyzed the rate of vaginal mesh erosion in patients using Gynemesh or Gynemesh-Soft. The researchers found that 20% of the women implanted with these devices had vaginal erosion, with older women more likely to have the side effect. Nearly 50% of the patients required surgery to partially remove the mesh, and 7% required complete removal of the mesh. Nearly 10% of women who had vaginal mesh erosion also suffered from pain during sexual intercourse, which could severely harm a woman’s quality of life and cause loss of consortium for her husband.

Symptoms of Vaginal Mesh Erosion

  • Increased vaginal discharge
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Bloody bowel movements
  • Infertility
  • Physical changes in the pelvis area
  • Pain during sexual intercourse

The only way to know if you are suffering from vaginal mesh erosion is to have a pelvic examination from a trusted physician who is experienced at diagnosing this complication.

Other Vaginal Mesh Side Effects

Although vaginal mesh erosion is one of the most common side effects of vaginal mesh, this device can also cause other complications.

  • Vaginal or pelvic pain
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Urethral and/or bladder erosion
  • Vaginal scarring
  • Nerve damage
  • Infection
  • Disfigurement of the vagina
  • Perforation of bowel, bladder, and blood vessels during insertion
  • Bleeding
  • Urinary problems, incontinence
  • Recurrent prolapse of internal organs into vagina (when the mesh is used to repair Pelvic Organ Prolapse)
  • Neuro-muscular problems
  • Vaginal shrinkage
  • Emotional trauma

Do I have a Vaginal Mesh Erosion Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting vaginal mesh erosion induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by vaginal mesh erosion, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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