Medical malpractice lawyers across the nation are, unfortunately, seeing a rise in malpractice cases citing the dangers of surgical mesh. Since 2016, the FDA has urged patients and their healthcare providers to be wary of surgical mesh and potential adverse effects it could have.
If you have had any medical complications that can be traced back to your surgical mesh, malpractice lawyers near you could help you get the compensation you deserve.
What is Surgical Mesh?
Surgical mesh, a screen-like material, is a medical device that can reinforce different tissues or bone. Surgical mesh is created from different materials, including synthetic polymers or organic acellular collagen produced from cows or pigs.
Although this mesh can technically be used for several conditions or surgeries, it is most commonly used for women suffering from Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) or Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI).
The first uses to repair POP can be traced back to the 1950s, as a treatment for abdominal hernias. Forty years later in the 1990s, gynecologists began inserting surgical mesh through the vagina as a treatment for Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP). In 2002, the first transvaginal surgical mesh repair device for POP as a class II moderate- risk device.
Why was Surgical Mesh used for Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
When POP entails the downwards shift of pelvic organs (like the bladder and uterus), which eventually ends with the organs exiting the vagina. This generally occurs in women who have already gone through childbirth, and their organs are not as strong as they were previously.
When a woman was diagnosed with POP, sometimes doctors would decide to surgically implant the permanent mesh to support and reinforce the vaginal wall, keeping the organs in place.
What led to the FDA’s decision?
On April 16th, the FDA ordered all manufacturers to stop selling and producing surgical mesh as it was changed to a class III high-risk product. With this new classification, all surgical mesh manufacturers were required to premarket approval before introducing their products to the market.
This decision followed many women’s complaints about their inserted surgical mesh and how it led to various medical problems such as problems and pain with intimacy, or pieces of the surgical mesh eventually painfully eroding through the vagina, leading to more necessary surgeries and intense amounts of pain.
Although the doctors had good intentions, some women ended up with more problems; then they started with after receiving the permanent surgical mesh.
As concerns from women and their medical attorneys continued to rise across the globe, the FDA started to conduct more research into the product and its overall safety. Unfortunately, they were unable to find any overwhelming positive results that supported the use of this mesh.
I received surgical mesh following a surgery. What should I do now?
If you have gone through surgical mesh implantation and are not experiencing any complications, there is no reason to worry. However, if you are feeling any of the common negative side effects, you should contact your primary care physician immediately.
Moving forward, the FDA is looking for a new device or procedure that would offer greater benefits and have a better treatment option than POP surgical mesh. An alternative procedure they are currently looking into is using native tissue to repair the prolapse and prevent further deterioration or discomfort.
Until a new procedure is found, the FDA recommends getting regular checks for your surgical mesh, to ensure nothing has moved, and there are no developing complications. Even if you are not currently experiencing any adverse side effects, you should always inform new doctors or medical care professionals of your surgical mesh, especially if you plan to have any medical procedures in the future.
If you or a loved one has experienced any medical complications resulting from surgical mesh, you should contact a medical malpractice lawyer immediately. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the case, you may be eligible for a medical malpractice claim which could result in all of your medical costs being covered, as well as a possible remuneration for future lost wages resulting from your medical condition.
