Complaints and Complications with Vaginal Mesh

In last three years, the FDA has received over 1,500 reports of complications with surgical mesh devices used to repair POP. During this time, there were seven reported deaths associated with POP repairs, three of which were related to the mesh placement procedure.

The mesh products are made by several companies including C.R. Bard Inc., Boston Scientific Corp. and Johnson & Johnson. The most common complications for surgical mesh devices used to repair POP include:

• Vaginal scarring;
• Contraction or shrinking of the mesh;
• Infection;
• Vaginal mesh erosion – tissue between the mesh and the lining of the vagina breaks down and the mesh becomes exposed on the surface of the vagina;
• Neuro-Muscular problems; and
• Onset or resurgence of urinary problems such as incontinence.

In some cases, the complications led to severe pelvic discomfort and pain, additional "revision" surgeries to try to excise the mesh, and permanent life-changing injuries.