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Even with the claim that mesh sling procedures for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are less invasive and may not be as dangerous as pelvic organ prolapse (POP) operations, still, a big number of women have complained of experiencing severe complications after their procedures. Considering that SUI is the most common pelvic floor disorder and that mesh sling procedures account for over 80 percent of all SUI surgeries in 2010, should make this a grave concern especially to women. Even the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged in its latest advisory, that complications may occur during sling procedures using surgical mesh. Among the common complications reported are the following: Chronic Pain In its latest update, the FDA has identified chronic pain as the most common complication experienced by patients. Pain may be felt in the vagina, the abdomen in retropubic approaches, and the groin in transobturator procedures. This pain can be very devastating even without moving and becomes worse when walking or even standing. It has been reported that the alleviation of this pain may require a new procedure to remove the mesh. Mesh Erosion Also called mesh exposure, extrusion, or protrusion, this complication is very common for both SUI and POP surgeries. Erosion may occur in the bladder, urethra, colon, and almost all pelvic organs. This may cause spotting, bleeding, vaginal discharge, and even infections. While some women may not notice the erosion, they are made aware of this when their partners complain of getting cuts or abrasions during sexual penetration. In minor cases, mesh erosion may be treated with medications but may require surgical procedure in severe cases. Infections In the complaints received by the FDA, infections ranked among the top four complications. Once infected, a woman may experience pain, fever, bleeding, and vaginal discharge which can smell very offensively. In addition to the discomfort, a patient may encounter difficulties in performing physical activities. Initial remedy for this complication may involve the taking of antibiotics before resorting to more drastic measures. Urinary Problems / Recurrent Incontinence A lot of patients have reported encountering urinary problems ranging from inability to urinate and being unable to completely empty their bladders. In some cases, the release of urine comes in dribbles and may be intermittent. This becomes ironic since in having a patient’s SUI repaired, she may encounter other types of incontinence. Dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse) Pain during sexual contact has become very common that relationships have been put to a test and in many instances have caused its disintegration. While this is not a noticeable complication, only when sexual contact is made that this pain may surface. A woman may find it very painful upon the insertion of the male organ. On the other hand, the husband may complain of abrasions or cuts during actual penetration. Along with the pain during contact, there may also be vaginal spotting or discharge. Neuro-Muscular Problems More and more women have reported that they are experiencing neuro-muscular problems after their sling procedures. This is particularly true in the transobturator approach where one study lists numbness and weakness in the legs as very common complications. Organ Perforation Mesh implanted in the pelvic area may also cause perforation of the nearby organs. This occurs when organs such as the bladder are punctured by the sling mesh causing great pain, bleeding, and infection. This pain can be very debilitating that it may be felt even when not moving. About the Author The author has noted that a number of vaginal mesh lawsuits pending in the multidistrict litigation (MDL) in West Virginia involve the vaginal mesh for sling procedures which goes to show that bladder mesh or bladder sling is as dangerous as any other mesh products. Be updated with the legal developments in the vaginal mesh controversy by checking Vaginal Mesh Lawsuits Center at vaginalmeshlawsuitscenter.com
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