One of the most serious vaginal mesh side effects is organ perforation. It can occur while a surgeon is implanting the mesh, or it can occur over time if the mesh erodes into an internal organ. Vaginal mesh can perforate blood vessels, the bladder, urethra, intestines, or vagina. The complications can be life-threatening, and emergency surgery is often necessary. However, even with revision surgery, the scarring, nerve damage, and other complications may be permanent.
Do I Have a Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has been injured by vaginal mesh organ perforation, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a vaginal mesh lawsuit.
What is Vaginal Mesh?
Vaginal mesh is a treatment for Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), two conditions that affect hundreds of thousands of women. POP and SUI occur when the muscles in the pelvic floor become weakened. Vaginal mesh was developed in the late 1990s as a hammock-like implant that could support weakened pelvic muscles.
Unfortunately, vaginal mesh has been linked to serious side effects, and there is little evidence that it is superior to traditional surgical treatments for POP and SUI. Although vaginal mesh has not been recalled, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published two safety warnings. The first was published in 2008, and the second in 2011. The FDA received around 4,000 adverse event reports.
The most commonly reported side effects were vaginal mesh erosion and organ perforation. However, because the FDA did not require safety studies before most vaginal meshes were approved, it is unknown how often organ perforation occurs.
Vaginal Mesh Organ Perforation
Organ perforation vaginal mesh side effect that can be life-threatening in some cases. It can occur when a surgeon is implanting the device, or over time, when the mesh erodes into organs and tissues in the pelvis. Surgery is often needed to repair organ perforation, but not always.
The most commonly perforated organ is the bladder and the urethra. It is also very common for vaginal mesh to erode into the vagina and protrude into the vaginal cavity. The most serious cases occur when the intestines or blood vessels become perforated.
Vaginal mesh may cause the following abdominal organs to be perforated:
- Vagina
- Bladder, urethra
- Blood vessels
- Intestines, colon, rectum
Symptoms of Organ Perforation
The symptoms of organ perforation vary depending on the organ that is perforated, the size of the perforation, and whether it occurs suddenly during surgery or over time due to erosion. Symptoms are most serious when the perforation allows bacteria and/or blood to leak into the abdominal cavity, or causes an abscess to develop.
Organ perforation symptoms may include:
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Abnormal bleeding in the vagina, urine, or stools
- Infection
- Symptoms of shock, sepsis
- Chills
- Confusion
- Fever
- Low body temperature
- Low blood pressure
- Losing consciousness
- Shaking
- Skin rash
- Warm skin
Treatment
Organ perforation is a very serious condition that can be deadly if treatment is delayed. Treatment varies depending on the type and severity of the perforation.
The most serious condition is intestinal perforation, due to the risk that bacteria will leak into the abdominal cavity the bloodstream and cause infection. This is called sepsis, and it involves a systemic inflammatory response. The person will gradually lose blood pressure, go into shock, and the major organ systems will shut down because they do not have enough blood or oxygen to survive.
Perforation of the bladder or the urinary tract is very common. Treatment for this may involve surgery or catheterization to drain the bladder. This gives the bladder time to heal, which may take several weeks.
If a blood vessel is perforated, it may leak blood into the abdominal cavity. Blood may also coagulate into a hematoma, which is a mass that causes swelling, increased pressure, and tissue damage.
Other Vaginal Mesh Side Effects
Side effects may include:
- Vaginal mesh erosion
- Organ perforation
- Shrinkage of the mesh
- Vaginal disfigurement
- Scarring
- Nerve damage
- Incontinence or prolapsed organs
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Need for corrective surgery or removal of the mesh
If you were injured by vaginal mesh, you are not alone. There are currently hundreds of vaginal mesh lawsuits in federal court, and women continue to contact The Clark Firm, LLP for more information about how to join the litigation.
Do I have a Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free vaginal mesh lawsuit review.