Study: Mesh Removal May Cause Injuries
Sep 25th, 2012 | By Jane Akre | Category: Medical News
Surgeons, WikiCommons
September 25, 2012 ~ Increasingly women are deciding that their synthetic surgical mesh placed to treat incontinence and prolapse is causing more complication than it’s cured and are opting to have it removed, but a new report says the removal procedure may cause a host of internal injuries, especially to the urethra, or the smooth tube that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder.
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic and Spectrum Health Medical Group in Michigan have published their findings this week in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.(here)
Researchers found the synthetic mesh kits using polypropylene mesh, promotes fibrosis or scar tissue, which may necessitate removal. This is unusual in it is one of the few acknowledgments that link polypropylene to fibrosis.
Vaginal mesh is inserted through the vagina to hold up prolapsed pelvic organs. A mesh sling may be used to support a sagging urethra and bladder to treat urinary incontinence and may be placed abdominally. Mesh complications include shrinkage, eroding into nearby organs, nerve and muscle pain, hardening, balling up, and causing infections, among other complications.
The plastic mesh utilizes anchors, usually metal, somewhere near the uterus to hold up the mesh. During a mesh removal, surgeons frequently leave behind the metal anchors since removal is considered too risky by many doctors.
In two cases profiled, surgeries for mesh and fibrosis removal resulted in damage to the urethra which was cut during the procedure. One woman undergoing the removal of a Prolift mesh (Johnson & Johnson), had her urethra transected and needed additional surgery and use of a catheter to assist with urination. Another patient had an American Medical Systems Apogee and Perigee mesh removed because it had eroded into her vagina and she was left with pain and incontinence.
“The literature suggests that 4.4% to 14.5% of patients have significant morbidity after mesh kit procedures, including mesh erosion, infection, pain, incontinence and recurrence of prolapse,” researchers noted. “The significant inflammation from host incorporation, relatively blind placement, and the proximity of urinary structures to supporting anchors predisposes the urethra to injury during mesh placement and removal.”
The FDA ordered 33 mesh makers to begin postapproval monitoring of complications last January, but those studies are not yet underway. The actual complication rate associated with surgical mesh for transvaginal or abdominal placement remains unknown.
The doctors involved in this study include Christine Heisler, MD, (Spectrum Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan) Elizabeth Casiano MD, Christopher Klingele, MD, John Gebhart, MD, Emanuel Trabuco MD.
I am scheduled to have my mesh removed after , almost 4 years of waiting , and pain and suffering. I am scared, , not knowing about what other woman , went through after having the mesh removed, Is there more damage and are infections gone. and pain?
I want to know, the mesh is protruding out in me in 2 places. PLEASE IF ANY WOMAN CAN GIVE OTHERS , WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER SURGERY, LET US KNOW.
IS THE DAMAGE MORE SEVERE, AND MORE SURGERIES, , LIKE MARY, SOME PEOPEL BECAUSE OF THE MESH, IN MEDICAL PROFESSION ARE CRUEL TO THE WOMEN. these women did not blame any doctor or nurse they saw after that surgery, I didn’t , I wanted to know what happened to my body I did not understand, Like other women women know within the year of the mesh implant, within 9 months after, all hell breaks loose with infections and pain. from mild to extreme severe. You never know 1 minute to the next.
The law suits are for permanent damages done by mesh , the companies , and the companies should be held responsible, but like mary said , I believe the 2 doctors that put my mesh in knew , and they also knew at my 6 weeks check up it had already moved, but said nothing, remembering the doctor’s look. but the sorry sarcastic remarks I got when asking questions , also state medical boards need to look into, NOT THE DOCTORS THAT ARE TRYING TO REMOVE THE MESH AND TRY TO HELP THE WOMEN WITH MESH IMPLANT, BUT THOSE THAT SAID NOTHING AND GUARANTEED THE MESH TO STOP BLADDER LEAKAGE. they knew , I BELIEVE THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN TOLD AND BEEN WARNED OF WHAT THE MESH WAS DOING TO WOMEN.
that is the way I see it, and I cannot help but be angry with those doctors and nurses , even more , before i KNEW ABOUT THE MESH MOVING THAT EXAMINED ME AND SAID NOTHING.
WHAT THEY ARE GIVING WOMEN TRULY IS NOT ENOUGH, NOT KNOWING IF MORE SURGERIES AND EXPENSES , OR DEATH IS THEIR FUTURE. i KNOW SOME WOMEN HAVE HAD HUSBANDS , I HAD NO HUSBAND TO GIVE SUPPORT, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD A HUSBAND, i HAD MEN THAT WERE INTERESTED IN ME, i AM A GOOD WOMAN. but had to turn them away, knowing I could not be a wife to them, One man after 2 years came back and wanted to know why I turned him down, I had to tell him the truth. I suffered alone, I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE AHD A HUSBAND IN EVERY DOCTOR’S OFFICE TO HEAR WHAT i HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH ALONE WITH DOCTORS AND NURSES.
Like mary said , her son and husband would have thrown a doctor out the window for talking cruelly , to her for something she is not responsible for . she did not deserve it, and neither did I and more women that had damages of the bladder mesh.
I am trying to curb my anger with all this for 4 years, it’s hard. God be with all the women with damages because of the mesh,
Hi i just want to say im am just as angry as u are and all the women that hav sufferd becuz of the mesh,i had my put in april 2010 and within a couple days i knew something was wrong. I have sufferd ever sence having uti afyer uti other infections discharge oh lord it was bad,pain in my pelvic area,lower back down both legs absolutely no energy inccontence still,had trouble peeing and when it did come out it was like right in mid stream it would freeze up and it take forever to finsh voiding. And my sex life with my husband has been destroyef. But i have to say im very lucky to have him he has been so understanding kind loving and wirh me thru it all. He has listen to drs say nothing was wrong and him telling them oh yea there def is something wrong. Well day before thanksgiving i had surgery sceduled to remove the mesh i had survery but nothing has changed if anything its worse. To be honest i hav researched the removal over over and it was to simple an quick for him to remove it. So i honestly dont think he removed it he might done a partial removal but he didnt remove it all he didnt remove off my bone or remove the arms or anchors. So zmake sure you ask these questions before surgery. .. Goodluck to all the women who hav sufferd with the mesh and may god be with yall….
My son flew to Seattle from Los Angles to accompany me to a doctors appointment when I was at the end of my rope. By then I had been to several already and was so frustrated with the doctors dismissive and condescending manner. It was obvious that none of them were going to admit to the fact that the mesh was causing unbearable and progressive pain and damage. I finally saw Dr. Raz at UCLA. By then the mesh was starting to come through my vagina. I truly believe I would have died without the 2 removal surgeries. I coudn’t have survived the pain any longer let alone all of the other immune problems, so the things I’m left to deal with are just part of the package and I’m very grateful to have the mesh out. Every case is different, but for me, I have some continence problems that I’m seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist for. Right now I’m using a nitro glycerin ointment to try and heal a rectal fissure and an estiodol concoction in my vagina to try and “fluff up” that area for the voiding problems. But you know what? This is all minor compared to the pain and suffering I was experiencing with the mesh inside me. I am so grateful to have it out and hope to improve with more time, but I’m already so much better off than I was during those darkest days.
LOOKS LIKE THE WOMEN , ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET TO DR RAZ SOME WAY TO GET MESH REMOVED.
My surgery trying to remove it, by doctors locally did not work, infections still bad , pain, and much weaker. A lot of doctors are saying they can do the surgery, but they are not doing something right. I still have mesh protruding out, infections, and the doctor will not even talk to me at all about what happened in surgery.
Maybe , I can get money to get to raz, and have it removed, honestly, I do not think they intend for some to live through this mesh . I cannot live on anti biotics. and this doctor says it ‘s not the mesh, I did not have the problems with infections before the mesh, and I cannot even feel urine coming out of me now. I am dead inside . I know when I feel full, but the flow if it is not making sound, as I have looked and the urine is still coming out, but I can’t tell, I cannot feel anything. I am not the same inside as before at all.
it will cost a lot to get to dr raz, but looks like he is the only one that is getting the mesh out with success of any kind.
I had anterior, posterior and a tvt. I was fortunate to choose my extraction doctors carefully. Dr. Trabuco at the Mayo clinic removed the anterior and posterior ‘blocks’ of mesh. Immediately following surgery I felt relief of some of the abdominal/pelvic pain but still had significant neuropathy and was chronically ill. I chose to have Dr. Raz remove as much mesh as he could. This surgery was very, very difficult. I lost a lot of blood and recovery was tough, but it too brought some relief. Unfortunately, the damage was already done. I compare it to being shot 3 or 4 times. If they remove all but one bullet, you are better-off overall but the scar tissue and the remaining bullet are still there. Although the extent of the discomfort and pain have been reduced, pain is pain! I think it is easier to manage and I think my health overall improved. The damage was done when they put the mesh in and it stayed in for years. I did not recieve any new injury from the extraciton surgeries.
Ok ladies,
keep the hope. I had total removal 7 months ago and life is not perfect but it is a hell of a lot better. Raz took care of me. I am able to walk, sleep, poop, and I am off all medication after 10 months of anti biotics and rectal botox injections under anesthesia every 10 weeks for muscle spasms. Sex is happening but it’s a work in progress. I am thankful for removal. I pray for all my sisters every day and I can’t say enough positive things about UCLA and Dr. Raz.
You say that you had a good doctor (Raz) did you have insurance to get this Botox?
Lillian good question, Did you have insurance to take care of all bills, what about stay , hotels , motels, eats, etc, more cost, good doctor? Was all of your questions answered.
How long did you suffer from infections, ? HOW LONG WAS IT THAT YOU FOUND OUT AND KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRI=ONG AND COULD NOT EVEN GET A DOCTOR , NURSE ANYONE IN MEDICAL TO TELL YOU YOUR INFECTIONS WAS BECAUSE MESH WAS STICKING OUT IN YOUR VAGINA CAUSING YOU TO BLEED, LIKE LITTLE WIRES , THAT WHEN URINE TEST WERE DONE ALWAYS A URINARY TRACT INFECTION, ABCESSES, AND MORE, PAIN, WAS IT A YEAR, 2 YEARS , 3 YEARS , 4 YEARS . HAD IT GOT INTO YOUR INTESTINES, AND YOU LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR BOWELS? PLUS BLADDER , ARE YOU COMFORTABLE BEING OUT IN OUBLIC FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AS YOU WERE BEFORE MESH WAS IMPLANTED.
sOME WOMEN KNOW IT IS TOO LATE, IT TOOK TOO LONG TO FIND OUT AND DOCTORS AND NURSES LYING TO THEM OVER 3 YEARS , THAT THE MESH HAS GOT INTO OTHER PARTS OF THEIR BODY, INTESTINES , BOWELS, PERMANENT DAMAGE , AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE MESH CANNOT BE REMOVED COMPLETELY AS IT STILLL PROTRUDES OUT IN VAGINIA, PREVENTING THEM FROM GAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH A HUSBAND, WOMEN THAT KNOW THEY CAN NEVER BE A WIFE TO A HUSBAND EVER AGAIN.
BECAUSE PEOPLE IN COMPANIES GOT SO MONEY HUNGRY GREEDY FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON MESH, THEY DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE WOMEN THAT WERE BEING USED AS GUINEA PIGS FOR THEIR PRODUCT. AND WOULD YOU BELIEVE NURSES ARE HAVING THIS MESH PUT IN WITHIN A YEAR OF TODAY, AND HAVING THEIR MESH TOOK OUT, BEFORE INFECTIONS OR SUFFERING FOR GREEDY MONEY. THEY HAVE CAES KNOWING THE DANGERS AND WHAT OTHER WOMEN HAVE BEEN SAYING NOW FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS IT WAS MADE PUBLIC. THEY HAVE NO DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR THE MESH PUT IN, SOME HAVE NEVER SUFFERED AS SOME WOMEN WITH 4 YEARS OF INFECTIONS AND SOME DIED, SOME CLOSE TO DEATH, AND THEY DARE TO FILE A CASE AND HAVE NOT SUFFERED OR BEEN TREATED CRUEL BY MEDICAL BECAUSE THEY HAD LINKS WITH MEDICAL PEOPLE, THAT WANT GREEDY MONEY TOO FOR THE RICH.
SOME WOMEN HAVE BEEN THROUGH HELL, USED AS GUINEA PIGS LIED TO, TREATED CRUEL , BY THOSE IN MEDICAL PROFESSION, SOME NEED TO BE BEHIND BARS , AND WE NEED JUDGES TO BE JUST IN COURTS WITH THOSE THAT WOULD FRAUD COURTS THAT HAVE NOT SUFFERED AT ALL.L
SOME WOMEN HAVE THE MONEY TO GET THAT KIND OF HELP, WHILE OTHERS DO NOT. JUST MORE PAIN, KNOWING THAT IF THEY GO THROUGH WITH MORE SURGERY TO TRY TO REMOVE THEY WILL HAVE MORE DAMAGE , IT CANNOT BE REMOVED, . WHAT DO THEY HAVE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE PAIN, , MORE LIES , WHAT WAS OFFERED BY THESE COMPANIES AND TO THE FDA, TO ALLOW THIS MESH TO BE USED IN WOMEN WITH WORDS OF GUARANTEE IT WILL STOP BLADDER LEAKAGE LIKE A MIRACLE DEVICE. NO MORE PADS , NO MORE LEAKAGE. . THAT SOME WOMEN HAVE DIED FIGHTING INFECTIONS SO BAD , AND HAD TO BEG FOR ANTI BIOTICS AT TIMES, NOTHING FOR PAIN AND SUFFERING AT ALL, DENIED , EVEN A CREAM TO GIVE RELIEF. WHY? WHY? WHY?”
STILL NO ANSWERS, ONCE YOU MENTION MESH TO A DOCTOR , NURSE, THE HELL STARTS, THEY WANT NO PART, SO WHAT AND WHERE DO WOMEN GO FOR ANTI BIOTICS THEY NEED, OR SOMETHING FOR PAIN, NOT EVEN A CREAM FOR RELIEF FOR OVER 4 YEARS WAS HARD TO GET. ANGER IS NOT THE WORD , A WOMAN THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH WHAT i HAVE FEELS , WRATH IS MOREE LIKE IT, AND i HATE IT , IT SHOWS ON MY FACE MY ANGER. THAT i can’t even get questions answered, and provoked to anger, because you can’t get to a pharmacy to get medicine because of mesh, honestly, I don’t think this web sight would want me to be as blunt in truth as to what docs . and nurses have put me through, and I had to step out of line being a lady, to a ——. when I WAS BEING TREATED CRUELLY ..
i AM GETTING BILLS NOW, THAT THESE COMPANIES SHOULD PAY, AND i COULD LOSE MY HOME AND MORE, THEY DO NOT CARE, WHAT THE WOMEN ARE SUFFERING HAVE SUFFERED AND PERMANENT DAMAGE AS LONG AS THEY GET BILLIIONS AND MORE GUINEA PIGS , HUMANS THAT DOCS AND NURSES LIE TO AND WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS . WHAT FAVORS WERE OFFERED, TO THOSE AT FDA AND MEDICAL TYO PUSH THEIR BILLIONS OF DOLLAR MESH, THAT DESTROYED LIVES AND KILLED SOME., AND MORE WILL DIE, IMMUNE SYSTEM , ANTI BIOTICS, THEY CAN’T FIGHT OFF EVEN A COLD. ETC.