Mentor OB is a medical device company that produced bladder slings and vaginal mesh used to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Unfortunately, thousands of women across the country have suffered serious injuries after using defective vaginal slings or transvaginal mesh devices. Defective Mentor OB vaginal slings have been reportedly linked to serious health complications, including vaginal pain, pelvic pain, urinary problems, infection, and injury to nearby organs.
Patients who have suffered complications from defective bladder slings and vaginal mesh may be entitled to compensation. If you or your loved one have experienced complications after a pelvic organ prolapse surgery, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to discuss your potential options. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC today to schedule your free initial consultation.
Why Do Patients Need Vaginal Mesh Implants?Women who have pelvic organ prolapse can benefit from surgical mesh implants. Organs can prolapse close to the vaginal opening, or even outside of the vaginal opening. When women suffer from POP, the tissues that hold the bowels, bladder, and reproductive organs in place can slide forward and downward, resulting in incontinence. Transvaginal mesh reinforces vaginal walls that have become weakened. It also gives the pelvic organ support. While thousands of women around the world have required surgical mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse without any issues, some women have faced serious complications.
Injuries Caused by Defective Mentor ObTapeObTape Vaginal Slings have been reportedly linked to serious complications after patients undergo POP surgery. Many women who received the ObTape Vaginal Sling have needed to undergo additional surgeries and experienced chronic pain. Unfortunately, some patients who received the ObTape Vaginal Sling suffered permanent damage that could not be corrected with surgery. Some suffer permanent incontinence, as well as chronic and severe pain, that they have to live with for the rest of their lives.
It has been reported that the ObTape Vaginal Sling has a design flaw that has been linked to the complications experienced by patients after POP surgery. The designers of this product likely intended for it to be a permanent solution to POP, but many women were requiring a second surgery to remove the product due to complications. Unfortunately, when the tissue surrounding the sling grows into and around the vaginal mesh, it can be difficult to remove. Surgeons often have to cause additional tearing of the tissue to remove the defective product. Because tiny pieces of the mesh can become embedded in the body, surgeons are often unable to remove all of the mesh pieces during the revision surgery.
The ObTape Vaginal Sling has also been reportedly linked to vaginal extrusion, which is when the vaginal sling begins to come through the patient’s vagina. In other cases, the patient’s body is unable to heal from the removal of the vaginal mesh. Infection, including sepsis, as well as the erosion of the patient’s urinary tract, can also happen.
Treatment to Repair OB Tape DamageRepairing damage from vaginal slings or meshes can be incredibly painful. Many times, surgeons have to conduct multiple surgeries to address the damage adequately. The additional surgeries needed to take out the defective transvaginal mesh and to repair the damage to the surrounding tissue can be extremely difficult. The recovery process can be complicated and may require patients to take significant time off of work. Victims may also experience challenges with going back to work, as they sometimes suffer from occasional incontinence, or in severe cases, permanent incontinence.
Some women who have had defective mesh implanted have a hard time standing upright and walking around. Others have to quit their jobs permanently because they are in too much pain to concentrate on their work. Many patients are unable to do the things they love due to permanent incontinence. Suppose you are unable to engage in your work and activities that you love because of complications from vaginal mesh or vaginal slings. In that case, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering through a personal injury lawsuit.
We are Here to HelpIf you believe you have suffered injuries due to a defective vaginal mesh or sling, it is important to consult an attorney as soon as possible. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, we understand the stress involved in recovering from a defective vaginal mesh implant. Having to go through a second surgery and live with a lifetime of consequences can be devastating. Our team of personal injury lawyers can evaluate the circumstances of your case and help you decide the best way to move forward.
For your convenience and safety, we offer video and phone conferencing. If you prefer an in-person consultation, we have three easy to reach offices in Uptown Charlotte, Monroe, and Mooresville. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.