JAMA Surgery Publishes Article Regarding the Association Between Vaginal Mesh and Mesh Erosions

On November 30, 2016, The Journal of American Medical Association (“JAMA”) published its mesh investigation, Association Between the Amount of Vaginal Mesh Used With Mesh Erosions and Repeated Surgery After Repairing Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence. Pelvic mesh is a material that surgeons often use for treatment of female urinary incontinence and other conditions.

JAMA Surgery published the study which investigated the association between the amount of mesh utilized in vaginal procedures and mesh erosions, as well as repeated surgery.  The highest mesh erosion risk was found in women receiving transvaginal pelvic organ prolapse repair surgery with mesh and concurrent sling use.  According to JAMA Surgery, the risks of repeated surgery overall and repeated surgery with concomitant erosion diagnoses were also the highest of the vaginal mesh plus sling group and were the lowest in women receiving a sling for stress urinary incontinence alone.  

The objective was to examine the rates of mesh complication and invasive re-intervention after placing vaginal mesh.  The investigation and study concluded that the combined use of POP mesh and SUI mesh sling was associated with the highest erosion and repeated intervention risk.  According to JAMA, there is evidence for a dose-response relationship between the amount of mesh used and subsequent mesh erosions, complications and invasive repeated interventions by doctors. 

The study used data from the New York State Department of Health.  It appears that the higher amount of vaginal mesh used in vaginal mesh surgery showed a higher rate of complications eventually leading to repeat surgery for the patient.

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against the mesh manufacturers of Gynecare Prolift, Bard Avaulta, Boston Scientific Pinnacle and Uphold, NAMS Apogee, Perigee and Elevat and other pelvic mesh products for mesh complications.  These cases involved allegations of defective mesh, as well as the failure of manufacturers to warn of known defects in the mesh.  

If you or a family member have experienced complications of a side effect or repeat surgeries as a result of the use of vaginal mesh, contact us.