Transvaginal Mesh Injury Complications Update

What is Transvaginal Mesh?

Surgical mesh is a woven fabric used as part of surgical procedures to repair, reinforce and strengthen weakened tissues. Trans Vaginal Mesh is used as slings for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and in the transvaginal repair of a condition called pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

What is Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP)?

Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition that occurs when one of the pelvic organs such as the bladder, uterus, bowel or rectum, moves or prolapses from the normal position and pushes against the wall of the vagina.

This happens when the muscles and connective tissues holding the organs in place are weakened over time. Surgeons implant the mesh to hold pelvic organs in place. When treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI), doctors use the mesh to support the urethra or the urinary bladder.

Trans Vaginal Mesh Update

In September, U.S. District Judge Goodwin issued an order for a second round of Bard Avaulta cases for preliminary trial dates in June 2013. The first Bard Avaulta mesh cases have trial dates beginning in February 2013.

Goodwin is overseeing MDLs established for federal transvaginal mesh lawsuits filed against C.R. Bard, American Medical Systems (AMS), Boston Scientific, Ethicon/Gynecare, and Coloplast.

What are Bell Wether Trials?

Bellwether trials occur in complex medical device and in defective drug litigation, where a number of lawsuits have been filed involving similar allegations. The outcome of these early cases is intended to allow parties to gauge how juries are likely to respond to evidence that is going to be presented in multiple cases.

The Bard Avaulta MDL transvaginal mesh litigation was centralized on the federal level in October 2010. 4 transvaginal mesh MDLs have been created in the AMS, Boston Scientific and Ethicon litigation.

Complications of Transvaginal Mesh

The FDA issued a safety alert in 2008 concerning serious complications associated with transvaginal devices. An updated health alert was issued stating that serious complications associated with transvaginal surgical mesh occurred and also stating that pelvic organ prolapse can often be treated without mesh. The complications from this treatment can be similar to and far more severe than the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse.

• Recurrence of pelvic organ collapse
• Severe vaginal and pelvic pain
• Painful intercourse
• Infection
• Vaginal Scarring
• Incontinence
• Death

Manufacturers of Transvaginal Mesh Devices

• C.R.Bard
• Gynecare
• Ethicon
• Mentor Corp
• Johnson & Johnson
• Tyco Covidien
• American Medical Systems
• Boston Scientific

Read more here and visit my website for further information.

Click here for the US District Court Southern District West Virginia

• MDL No. 2187 | In Re C. R. Bard, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation
• MDL No. 2325 | In Re American Medical Systems, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation
• MDL No. 2326 | In Re Boston Scientific Corp. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation
• MDL No. 2327 | In Re Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation
• MDL No. 2387 | In Re Coloplast Corp. Pelvic Support Systems Products Liability Litigation