For some time doctors have used surgical mesh to treat urinary incontinence and hernias. It is also used to treat women suffering from pelvic organ prolapse after a hysterectomy or having had children when the bowel, bladder, or other organs can move out of their normal positions.
Many patients treated this way react well to the mesh and are assisted, however, people often suffer negative health reactions, often very serious ones, as a result of these implants. In many the mesh migrates through the flesh and protrudes into organs, or sometimes through the vaginal wall causing illness and severe pain.
A significant number of women have been caused incontinence, infections, and extreme pain resulting in mobility problems, destroyed sex lives, and psychological injury.
In the USA there have been very large claims and settlements by women who have been injured, sometimes having to undergo additional surgery. A number of manufacturers have been sued in America in this way, and there have been successful claims against the Boston Scientific company.
An international review procedure called “Cochrane Reviews” concluded in February 2016 that there were concerns which should be addressed by gynaecological surgeons relating to these procedures. It found that women were more likely to have repeated surgery and incontinence due to complications with surgical mesh, and that there was a 10% “erosion rate”.
In Britain some medical societies have recommended that women considering prolapse surgery should be advised about the serious risks to health. This has been reflected in a recent change to the law which requires doctors to explain any significant risks to patients so that they can decide for themselves whether they will proceed with any given operation or procedure. It would be negligence for a doctor to fail to do so.
If you are suffering from complications due to surgical mesh implants please get in touch with Caron Rockey on 029 2047 5100.