Vaginal Mesh Lawsuits

When it was introduced in the 1990s, vaginal mesh was heralded as a safe and permanent fix for female pelvic organ prolapse (POP), a condition that happens when a woman's pelvic muscles weaken causing the pelvic organs – including the bladder, vagina, rectum and uterus – to drop into the vagina. It's a condition that typically plagues older women, women who have undergone childbirth, a hysterectomy and menopause.

Vaginal mesh complications

Vaginal mesh, made from a flexible plastic material, is surgically implanted through the vagina. After incisions are made in the vagina and supporting tissue near the vagina, this hammock-like device is stitched under the prolapsed organs. The mesh is supposed to support the organs and reinforce the weakened vaginal tissue.

In some cases, however, the mesh is known to erode, causing pain and infection. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that 10 percent of women experience mesh erosion within one year of the surgery. Typically, erosion symptoms happen within a month of the initial surgery, with pain during sex, vaginal scarring, vaginal shrinkage and organ perforation being the most common.

Some women have opted to have the mesh surgically removed. The procedure is difficult but can be successful in removing irritating mesh.

Vaginal mesh – FDA warnings

Today, all the vaginal mesh devices on the market are modeled after one device — Boston Scientific's ProteGen, which was pulled from the market amid safety concerns in the 1990s. In July 2011, the FDA issued a safety communication about all vaginal mesh devices, warning health-care providers and patients about the dangers. While the FDA decided not to pull the device from the market, it did call for more stringent testing of new mesh products. The FDA has also required 35 mesh manufacturers to perform three-year studies on the products.

Vaginal Mesh Claims

Women from around the country have already filed court complaints against the multitude of companies that make vaginal mesh, as well as similar bladder sling devices. The many differing manufacturers each carry a variety of types of slings and mesh products:

American Medical Systems (AMS) – MiniArc Precise Single-Incision Sling System, MiniArc Single-Incision Sling System, BioArc SP Sling System, BioArc To Subfacial Hammock, In-Fast Ultra Transvaginal Sling, Monarc Subfascial Hammock, SPARC Sling System, Acticon Neosphincter; Elevate Prolapse Repair; Perigee; Straight-In Sacral Colpopexy; Apogee
Bard Medical – Avaulta Plus, Avaulta Solo, Pelvisoft Biomesh, Pelvitex Mesh, Pelvilace Biourethral Support System, Pelvicol Acellular Collagen Matrix, Uretex, Uretex To Trans-Obturator
Boston Scientific – Advantage Fit System, Capio CL, Obtryx Transboturator, Precision Twist, Solyx SIS, Advantage Transvaginal Mid-Urethral, Lynx, Precision, Prefyx PPS, Capio, Pinnacle, Repliform, Folyform, Xenform
Ethicon (a division of Johnson and Johnson) – Gynecare Prolift, Gynecare TVT, Gynecare Gynemesh
Mentor Corp. – Obtape
Tyco: IVS Tunneler

Vaginal Mesh Compensation

With the large number of court cases mounting, a multidistrict litigation (MDL) has been established involving several makes and manufacturers of the mesh. The MDL proceedings create consistency among the different lawsuits. Women who have had mesh implanted and are suffering from it should seek financial compensation for their time off work, medical expenses, pain and overall changes in lifestyle. Even with medical insurance, the cost of removing damaging mesh can be financially straining.