Transvaginal Mesh Injuries

Millions of women throughout the United States have received vaginal mesh implant surgery. Vaginal mesh, or transvaginal mesh, is used to treat several medical conditions, including urinary leakage and pelvic organ prolapse. Unfortunately, some of these products have been associated with dangerous side effects, such as organ perforation, bleeding, pain, urinary incontinence, and serious infections.

If you or a loved one has suffered complications after a surgery that used transvaginal mesh, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, are here to help you understand your options. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Why Do Surgeons Use Vaginal Mesh?

Vaginal mesh is a type of surgical mesh that is used to reinforce areas in the pelvis with tissue damage. Vaginal mesh is made from synthetic materials or animal tissues. While surgeons have used vaginal mesh to repair damaged tissue for years, newer types of vaginal mesh have been proven to be dangerous for women. During surgery, the vaginal mesh is implanted into weakened tissue or organs to provide extra support. Surgeons commonly use vaginal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Surgeons most often use vaginal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse, also known as POP, is a medical disorder that causes damage to the pelvic floor. When a patient suffers from pelvic organ prolapse, their pelvic organs become weakened to the point that they collapse down into the vagina. This is one of the most common medical conditions that affect women and often occurs after childbirth. Patients often require surgery to correct pelvic organ prolapse. During the surgery, surgeons apply the vaginal mesh to reinforce the patient's damaged pelvic tissue.

Stress Urinary Incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence is another common medical condition. Stress urinary incontinence happens when the patient's bladder leaks unintentionally anytime the bladder is put under stress. In many cases, the bladder will leak when the patient is engaged in physical activities, or even when they sneeze, cough, or laugh. Surgeons use the vaginal mesh to help strengthen the weakened tissues in an attempt to prevent these unintentional bladder leaks.

The Harmful Effects of Vaginal Mesh

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in early 2019 that it would stop all sales of vaginal mesh throughout the United States. This product was recalled after reports of serious complications from the use of the mesh in surgeries for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. The pelvic mesh has been known to erode inside the patient's body, causing them severe pain and other dangerous complications. Some patients require a second surgery to remove the mesh and repair any damage caused by the mesh. Hundreds of thousands of women throughout the United States have suffered serious complications from pelvic mesh, including the following:

  • Chronic pain surrounding the location of the pelvic mesh
  • Permanent urinary problems, including permanent incontinence
  • Serious infections located around the edges of the pelvic mesh that cut into the patient’s organs or tissue
  • Chronic stomach and back pain
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Lupus type symptoms, including muscle pain, lethargy, fogginess, runny nose, and fatigue
  • Further damage to pelvic tissue and organs; this can become irreversible in serious cases
Bringing a Lawsuit for Your Vaginal Mesh Injuries

Women who suffered painful and serious side effects from vaginal mesh have brought thousands of lawsuits against the manufacturers. Under North Carolina law, patients have the right to bring lawsuits against manufacturers for putting a defective product on the market, failing to warn patients adequately about the risks associated with the use of the product and providing misleading information regarding the safety of the product.

In this case, the companies that manufactured the reportedly defective pelvic mesh implants have been involved in multiple lawsuits. C.R. Bard, American Medical Systems, Boston Scientific, and Johnson & Johnson are all manufacturers of transvaginal mesh and have all been involved in lawsuits related to the use of their product.

Contact Us Today

The sooner you speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer, the better. 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.

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