The Vaginal Mesh helpline has been receiving calls from women concerned about getting a colonoscopy while having a vaginal mesh. Although we cannot give medical advise we can present an article we have found:

US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health:
Case of rectal migratin of mesh after TVM (tension-free vaginal mesh) operation.

The Department of Urology, Kurashiki Central Hospital.

A 64-year-old woman presented with recto-cutaneous fistula after tension-free vaginal mesh reconstruction using polypropylene mesh for pelvic organ prolapse. Eleven months after the operation, an ulcerative lesion with stools smell secretion developed in the left hip. Magnetic resonance imaging and colonoscopy revealed a migration of the left arm of the mesh and a recto-cutaneous fistula. The patient underwent excision of the infected mesh and rectal wall closure together with transient colostomy. After 8 months, colonoscopy revealed a new migration of the mesh in the rectum, which was also removed. The colostomy was closed one year later and rectal erosion has not reccurred since then. The possibility of developing a rare but severe mesh-related complication as presented here should always be kept in mind.

We have had a number of callers have a Doctor stop the colonoscopy due to mesh erosion. The idea of an MRI makes sense to us. You also might want to go to a Urogynecologist first to assess your individual mesh circumstances before proceeding. We currently are working with a number of vaginal mesh lawyers who are accepting vaginal mesh cases as a part of the multi-district litigations. Please keep in mind  that in the female system the bladder bowel and Uterus are a tight knit system when making any decsions for any procedures. Seek medical advise and a second opinion if necessary.

As lawyers thru-out the country jump on the vaginal mesh lawsuits women are searching for urogynecologists or any doctor that can help them. It starts to become obvious that we are not dealing with a product liability that will be easy to assess. The FDA has not pulled them off the market and Docgors are still putting them in despite the warnings. Doctors appear to be stuck between the complications versus the cure for women with severe prolapse. Yet, the horror stories we hear on a daily basis put us in awe. Why are doctors still putting them in ?

We must wonder with all this is mind when is the actual statute of limitations and will we have to send women away who are suffering severe side effects from these mesh devices

The statute of limitations for mesh litigants becomes  very tricky within the law. According to  Transvaginal mesh a lawyers, there are a lot of issues that  arise or things that  just need to be discussed and reviewed regarding a statute of limitations. it is distressing  to think if a woman  is in a state with a one year statute of limitations and had their surgery five years ago that  she cannot do anything about it. The complications are so severe and life altering this would be a travesty. However, that's simply not always the situatuon.  That is where a transvaginal mesh lawyer can help you.
actually, i there are a  number of key dates that can affect when your statute of limitations actually started to run. what is so interesting  is that there's not always one correct answer.  There is  the date in which you had your initial surgery. Then there is the date in which you had the mesh removed.  Then we must examine the date in which the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) came out with a warning. There is the  date that the early clinical trial ended in 2010. The date in which your doctor convinced you to have the surgery.There is also  the date when you first started noticing your symptoms. There is also the date you may have had it removed.
Now the manufacturers  will  go for the earliest date to help their case. However, what  injured women do not realize is that any of those dates are arguable as a number of factors go into determining when someone's statute of limitations started to run.   Do not to assume that your opportunity has passed and you are out of luck.  If you are suffering from the mesh  take a chance and call a Vaginal mesh lawyer lawyer at the Vaginal Mesh Helpline. You may think it is too late but , you may be  astonished  to find out that one of our vaginal mesh lawyers may tell you it  is not too late at all.

We spesak to women on a daily basis who are suffering and frightened. Our message is do not give up. 300,000 women have been implanted with vaginal mesh implants and as a group you can make a difference for each and everyone of you. You must send ther manufacturers a message.

Risks with Cystocele and Rectocele Mesh Repair, FDA Warnings, Vaginal mesh lawyers

In July 2011, the FDA released a safety communication warning healthcare providers of the serious risks associated with surgical mesh used to repair pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Specifically, the FDA stated that complications were not rare, and that surgery with the mesh may be no better than traditional surgery options that don’t use mesh.

Public Citizen and Vaginal mesh

In October 25, 2011, a consumer advocacy group called Public Citizen submitted an appeal to the FDA that all non-absorbable vaginal mesh be recalled. They stressed that there is a need for these non-absorbable vaginal meshes to be removed from the market since it’s benefits over other non-mesh procedures used to repair POP and SUI were unseen, and patients who received them developed fatal reactions.  The group also recommends that all non-absorbable vaginal mesh be tested appropriately for safety and effectiveness before the FDA approves its availability in the market.

FDA 510 (K) Process

Manufacturers needed  only to show they were similar to devices already on the market to gain approval through the FDA’s 510(k) approval process. The remaining eight recalled devices didn’t have to go through any kind of FDA review. Of the 113 recalls, 35 were for cardiovascular devices, including automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, and only 12 of them had been required to undergo patient testing.

POP repair surgeries may include cystocele and rectocele. 

 Unfortunately, complications have been found with both.
Types of POP Repair Include Cystocele and Rectocele.The sling procedure, or suburethral sling procedure, refers to a particular kind of surgery using ancillary material to aid in closure of the urethral sphincter function of the bladder. It is performed as a treatment of severe urinary incontinence. The sling procedure, also known as the suburethral fascial sling or the pubovaginal sling, has many forms due to advances in the types of material used for the sling. Some popular types of sling material are Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene), Gore-Tex ® , and rectus fascia (fibrous tissue of the rectum).

Cystocele and  rectocele repair

•     Cystocele—bladder prolapse
•     Rectocele—rectal prolapse (end of the large intestine, or rectum)
•     Uterine prolapse
•     Vaginal prolapse
•     Enterocele—herniated small bowel

Rectocele or Enterocele

A rectocele camera occurs when the end of the large intestine (rectum) pushes against and moves the back wall of the vagina. An enterocele (small bowel prolapse) occurs when the small bowel camera presses against and moves the upper wall of the vagina. Rectoceles and enteroceles develop if the lower pelvic muscles become damaged by labor, childbirth, or a previous pelvic surgery or when the muscles are weakened by aging.

rectocele mesh  repair complications

•     Painful Intercourse
•     Shortened Vagina
•     Vaginal Scar Tissue
•     Rejection of Graft
•     Vaginal Wound Dehiscence
•     Mesh extrusion or erosion
   

Mesh was initially incorporated into POP surgical repair because it offered more support to the affected organ and helped shore up surrounding muscles and tissues. Since the risk for recurrence of prolapse is high in women who have cystocele surgery and rectocele surgery, the hope was that surgical mesh would help sustain the repair. The FDA received many reports, however, or cystocele mesh complications and rectocele mesh complications.

The Vaginal Mesh Mess

Women are suffering from the vaginal mesh repair.

 Other Vaginal Mesh repair complications

• erosion of mesh
• serious infection
• recurrence of pop / sui
• perforation
• pain
• corrective surgeries
• injury to other organs
• vaginal scarring
• urinary problems
• hardening of mesh

Cystocele Mesh Complications and Rectocele Mesh Complications

During cystocele surgery, transvaginal mesh is inserted through the vagina to help act as a barrier and to hold the bladder in place. The mesh is also intended to help stop related problems like incontinence.

A rectocele occurs when the thin wall of tissue separating the rectum from the vagina weakens, allowing the front of the rectum to bulge into the vagina. During rectocele surgery, excess stretched tissue is removed through the vagina, and a mesh patch may be used to support and strengthen the wall. (Surgery may also proceed from the abdomen, anus, or perineum.)

Though surgical mesh does seem to provide better support for pelvic organs, cystocele mesh complications and rectocele mesh complications made the improvement a moot point. The FDA, in its 2011 warning, mentioned that it had received nearly 3,000 reports of vaginal mesh complications between 2008 and 2010, with the most common being mesh erosion through the vagina. Mesh erosion can require multiple surgeries to repair and may be extremely debilitating.

Other cystocele mesh complications and rectocele mesh complications included pain, infection, bleeding, pain during sex, organ perforation, urinary problems, recurrent prolapse, vaginal scarring/shrinkage, and neuro-muscular problems. Many required additional surgical treatment and hospitalization.

Cystocele Surgery and Rectocele Surgery

Cystocele, urethrocele, enterocele, and rectocele are particularly likely to occur together. Urethrocele is virtually always accompanied by cystocele (cystourethrocele). Cystocele and cystourethrocele commonly develop when the pubocervical vesical fascia is weakened. Enterocele usually occurs after a hysterectomy. Weakness in the pubocervical fascia and rectovaginal fascia allows the apex of the vagina, which contains the peritoneum and small bowel, to descend. Rectocele results from disruption of the levator ani muscles.

Severity of these disorders can be graded based on level of protrusion:

•     1st degree: To the upper vagina
•     2nd degree: To the introitus
•     3rd degree: External to the introitus

If you have been injured due to a vaginal mesh from any of the manufactuirers listed below  contact Vaginal mesh Helpline 1 877 522-2123

Manufacturers

Johnson & Johnson

•     Ethicon TVT
•     Gynecare Prolift
•     Gynecare Prosima
•     Gynecare TVT
•     Gynemesh PS

C.R. Bard

•     Avaulta PlusT BioSynthetic Support
•     Avaulta SoloT Synthetic Support
•     Faslata Allograft
•     PelvitexT Polypropylene Mesh
•     Pelvicol Tissue
•     PelviSoft Biomesh

Boston Scientific

•     AdvantageT Sling System
•     Prefyx Mid UT Mesh Sling System
•     Prefyx PPST System
•     Obtryx Curved Single
•     ObtryxMesh Sling
•     Arise
•     Pinnacle
•     Solyx
•     Lynx

American Medical Systems

•     SPARC
•     BioArc
•     MiniArc
•     Apogee
•     Elevate
•     Monarc
•     In-Fast
•     Perigree