A joint committee sponsored by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) recommends limiting the use of vaginal mesh to high-risk women for whom the benefit may outweigh the risks associated with the device.
The Joint Committee also recommended that a national registry be created to track outcomes of patients who receive the device. LegalView, a leading online legal resource, endorses the November 2011 decision.
Vaginal mesh is a synthetic mesh used to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
POP occurs in women who have had multiple childbirths or a hysterectomy. In this condition, the pelvic organs, most commonly the bladder, slip out of place and bulge into the vagina due to weakened pelvic floor muscles and ligaments.
SUI is common in elderly women, but is also seen in younger women. SUI occurs when women have an involuntary loss of urine due to physical activity like sneezing, laughing, exercising, or coughing.
Physicians frequently treat these conditions by inserting a vaginal mesh, but there are several serious complications associated with the device. In an investigation launched by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency found that the most commonly reported complication was mesh erosion. Mesh erosion occurs when the synthetic mesh erodes into surrounding tissues, making it very difficult to remove. In the Joint Committee investigation, the committee found that nearly 20 percent of POP repairs involving vaginal mesh resulted in mesh erosion.
Other complications include pain, bleeding, infection, painful urination, painful sexual intercourse, and mesh shrinkage. Also, sometimes the device does not fix what it is supposed to fix. Many women require several corrective surgeries to repair the many complications associated with the device. Former chair of the ACOG's Committee on Gynecologic Practices, Dr. Cheryl B. Iglesia said, "complete removal of the mesh may not be possible. For this reason, it's important to understand that, in many cases, POP can be successfully treated without mesh and women and their doctors really need to weigh the risks and benefits before deciding on a course of action."
Dr. Matthew D. Barber, President of AUGS said, "The incidence of POP continues to grow . . . More than 350,000 women undergo surgery for this condition each year." In July 2011, the FDA issued a formal warning against the device advising physicians to consider alternative treatments. The Joint Committee echoes the FDA warning.
Author Resource:-
Visit LegalView to receive a FREE legal consultation from vaginal mesh lawyers. LegalView is a leading online legal resource that provides information on a variety of legal topics, including Traumatic Brain Injury.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 