09/04/2013 // Vaginal Mesh Website (Press Release) // Life Care Solutions Group // (press release)
A very important lawsuit about the complications resulting from transvaginal mesh (TVM) is happening right now in West Virginia. Donna Cisson is a 55 year old woman who received a TVM implant that was made by the medical device company C.R. Bard (Bard Avulta Plus). So far she’s needed two surgeries to fix damage caused by the mesh. Ms. Cisson’s lawyers presented the court with a warning label from a chemical Bard used when making the mesh. It clearly states that the chemical should never be used in anything that will be implanted in the human body, but Bard used it anyway. E-mails show that Bard went out of its way to hide how they were using the chemical; they believed the manufacturer would no longer sell it to them if they knew what it was being used for. Bard also did not tell doctors about the risk.
What Is a Trans Vaginal Mesh, and Why is it a Problem?
TVM was developed to treat women with a condition called pelvic organ prolapse. As a woman ages, and especially if she has delivered children vaginally, the uterus and other organs of the pelvis can shift position. TVM feels like a very thin, coarse piece of plastic cloth, designed to work like a sling. Implanted inside the vaginal wall and anchored into the pelvis, the intent was to support and lift the pelvic organs as close as possible back to their original position.
The problem with implanting any type of foreign object in the human body is that the body will try to reject or expel it. If mesh includes chemicals that are known to be toxic, such as the mesh used by Bard, then the body’s reaction will be more severe. Other common surgical mesh risks include bladder, uterine, vaginal and rectal pain, difficulty urinating, infections, and sections of mesh creating ulcers into the vagina. If pelvic mesh pierces the pudendal nerve, a major nerve in the pelvis, severe pain and dysfunction may develop. Pudendal nerve pain can also be caused by compression or traction.
Life Care Planning
Women who have been implanted with TVM may need a variety of services to cover the costs of removing the mesh, reconstructing the vagina, and managing long term disabilities. Consulting a specialist such as Dr. Michael Hibner, chronic pelvic pain and TVM expert, is a good place to start. Life care planning cost analysis is also a good idea, since there are many additional expenses associated with recovery from TVM that should be factored into a settlement. It’s important that anyone implanted with TVM remain informed about complications and follow the news, such as updates on the transvaginal mesh trial in West Virginia.
Media Information:
Address: West Virginia
Phone: 888.855.1674
Url: http://tvm.lifecare123.com/vaginal-mesh-news-complications-lawsuits-and-life-care-planning_10030.html
