Women considering or who have opted for a transvaginal mesh implant to treat their personal health problems should be aware of a new study suggesting the risk for mesh infection may be worse than initially thought.

Even though there are currently thousands of women filing transvaginal mesh implant lawsuits after experiencing serious device complications the devices are still commonly used to treat either pelvic organ prolapse (POP) or stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

However, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers from the Magee-Women’s Research Institute in Pittsburgh evaluated the reactions of patients undergoing transvaginal mesh implant revision surgery.

Revision surgeries are conducted to either correct or remove the implant after patients experience severe complications. Researchers analyzed 27 vaginal tissue samples from women who reported transvaginal mesh complications.

The scientists found that macrophages, white blood cells which occur around infection sites, were significantly more likely to occur in cases of mesh penetration of the vaginal wall.

In these cases, there were 88.4% higher concentrations of macrophages than in patients who had their transvaginal mesh implant removed for pain.

Overall, researchers noticed that there were a high number of concentrates of macrophages around the inflammation areas in women who suffered transvaginal mesh implant complications.

In particular, woman who suffered mesh extrusion through the vaginal wall had the highest levels of macrophages, suggesting a higher risk of infection with this injury.

Other serious transvaginal mesh implant complications reported from patients include:

• mesh erosion
• perforation
• infection
• debilitating pain that greatly affects the patient’s movement

Overview of Transvaginal Mesh Implant Complications

In July 2011, the FDA sent out a public warning stating it had received thousands of transvaginal mesh implant complication reports between January 2008 and December 2010.

The agency went on further to state that after reviewing all available information, they concluded that there was no evidence indicating that transvaginal mesh implant products provided any additional benefits that could not be offered by traditional surgery.

When transvaginal mesh was first innovated, manufacturers allegedly advertised these products as superior alternatives to traditional surgeries but did not sufficiently discuss the risks.

Even though transvaginal mesh implant risks have been the topic of discussion in the medical community for some time now, the complaints regarding these products continue to be filed.

Several transvaginal mesh implant manufacturers have reportedly agreed to pay several billion dollars to settle transvaginal mesh implant lawsuits, with thousands of individual cases still being processed in the court system.

The transvaginal mesh implant litigation movement has become the largest mass tort in the United States in the past decade.

At this time there are approximately 100,000 women nationwide alleging transvaginal mesh implant complications. Any patients who may be eligible for legal action should consult a specialized lawyer to see if they are eligible for a transvaginal mesh implant lawsuit.