Transvaginal Mesh Complications

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Who this can affect:

Women who received a transvaginal placement of surgical mesh

A FDA alert issued in 2008 reported that 9 surgical mesh manufacturers had submitted over 1000 reports of complications including erosion through vaginal epithelium, infection, urinary problems, pain recurrence of prolapse and incontinence. The FDA also stated that bladder, bowel and blood vessel perforations had been reported. In several cases, vaginal scarring and mesh erosion led to considerable discomfort and pain, decreasing the patient’s quality of life. Treatment of these complications are often painful and require further surgery, blood transfusion, intravenous therapy or hematoma/abscess drainage.

In the advisory issued by the FDA, specific characteristics of at-risk patients was not determined. The overall health of the patient, size and shape of the mesh, the mesh material, surgical technique and estrogen status may be possible factors.

Transvaginal placement of surgical mesh is used to treat women with Urinary Stress Incontinence (USI) and Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP). Triggered by weak muscle tone, urinary stress incontinence causes loss of bladder control. Pelvic Prolapse causes the vagina and surrounding organs to fall from their normal position.

The transvaginal placement of surgical mesh was designed to alleviate symptoms of these diseases by acting as a hammock to support the affected organs. Both poor design and surgical errors have been cited as reasons for complications stemming from the placement of the mesh.

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