As scientific advances make new medical treatments possible, it is easy for those with serious medical needs to place all their hopes and fears in one treatment or another. Unfortunately, these treatments often come with entirely new complications that take time and effort to work through.
In the meantime, many patients receive treatments that may create greater problems than the ones they solve. One such treatment that commonly causes serious complications is the use of surgical mesh to address pelvic floor disorders.
If you believe that you suffered serious harm because of a treatment involving surgical mesh, you should consult with a personal injury attorney with experience pursuing medical product liability claims. Proper legal counsel helps you understand the scope of your injury and identifies which parties may ultimately hold responsibility for your injuries, all while keeping your rights protected.
Common uses of surgical mesh
Surgical mesh offers patients a useful solution in instances where natural tissues weaken and cannot keep organs or fluids held firmly in place. Two of the most common uses of surgical mesh include stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP), both of which present serious risks to patients who receive them.
When the procedure goes as planned and patients do not experience complications, surgical mesh can reconstruct portions of a weakened vaginal wall and other tissues that support pelvic organs. Without complications, this can be a literal life-saver. Unfortunately, the FDA recently reclassified surgical mesh as a high-risk product when used in transvaginal POP repair procedures, and continues to rate the material as moderate-risk in SUI procedures.
Potential complications of using surgical mesh
If a POP or SUI procedure using surgical mesh develops complications, the results can prove quite serious. Symptoms may range from significant discomfort to serious ongoing pain and dangerous infections.
In procedures to repair POP, patients may experience ongoing pain and bleeding, additional pain during sex, and even additional damage to nearby organs if the mesh erodes or perforates surrounding tissues. Patient may even require additional surgery to address these issues.
In procedures using surgical mesh to repair SUI, similar complications can arise . Often, the mesh deteriorates or erodes over time, which can irritate nearby organs and cause ongoing pain and urinary complications.
Get the help you need to protect yourself
You deserve the best quality of life that you can achieve. Should you experience complications from a surgery involving surgical mesh, be sure to reach out to an experienced attorney who can help you understand your rights and develop strategies to recover fair compensation for a medical procedure gone wrong.