The Vaginal Mesh Helpline is keeping you up to date on all news related to vaginal mesh lawsuits, Incontinence and vaginal mesh complications and trial updates. This new FDA approval of Botox for urinary incontinence is very interesting. Many mesh victims are seeing incontinence return with the vaginal mesh failing and falling apart.  This news on Botox may be of interest to our vaginal mesh readers.

January 18, 2013 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today expanded the approved use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) to treat adults with overactive bladder who cannot use or do not adequately respond to a class of medications known as anticholinergics.

Overactive bladder is a condition in which the bladder squeezes too often or squeezes without warning. Symptoms include leaking urine (urinary incontinence), feeling the sudden and urgent need to urinate, and frequent urination.

When Botox is injected into the bladder muscle, it causes the bladder to relax, increasing the bladder’s storage capacity and reducing episodes of urinary incontinence. Injecting the bladder with Botox is performed using cystoscopy, a procedure that allows a doctor to visualize the interior of the bladder while Botox is being injected.

“Clinical studies have demonstrated Botox’s ability to significantly reduce the frequency of urinary incontinence,” said Hylton V. Joffe, M.D., director of the Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Today’s approval provides an important additional treatment option for patients with overactive bladder, a condition that affects an estimated 33 million men and women in the United States.”

Botox’s safety and effectiveness for this new indication were established in two clinical trials of 1,105 patients with symptoms of overactive bladder. Patients were randomly assigned to receive injections of 100 units of Botox (20 injections of 5 units each) or placebo.

Results after 12 weeks showed that patients treated with Botox experienced urinary incontinence an average of 1.6 to 1.9 times less per day than patients treated with placebo. Botox-treated patients also needed to urinate on average 1.0 to 1.7 times less per day and expelled an average of about 30 milliliters more urine than those treated with placebo.

Treatment with Botox can be repeated when the benefits from the previous treatment have decreased, but there should be at least 12 weeks between treatments.

Side Effects.

Keep in mind that this could be beneficial or prove to have complications down the road.

Common side effects reported during clinical trials included urinary tract infections, painful urination, and incomplete emptying of the bladder (urinary retention). Patients who develop urinary retention may need to use a catheter until the urinary retention resolves. Patients being treated for overactive bladder with Botox should not have a urinary tract infection and should take antibiotics before, during, and for a few days after Botox treatment to lower the chance of developing an infection from the procedure.

Botox is manufactured by Allergan Inc. based in Irvine, Calif.

They come under so many names manufactured by dozens of manufacturers but, the are all Prolene mesh and over 300,000 women have had them implanted. Some where aware of the implantation and others were just going in for a hysterectomy and came out with a mesh.

You have seen it on T.V and the lawsuits are being filed by the thousands as a multi district litigation consolidated in West Virginia for the most part. They are called a vaginal mesh, TVT sling, Transvaginal mesh, TVT, Bladder sling, pelvic mesh, Prolene mesh, surgical mesh, Bladder Neck Suspension Kit, SPARC Sling, MiniArc, Avaulta System, ProteGen Sling, ObTape, Desara Sling, IVS Tunneller I, Gynecare Prolift, TVT, Transvaginal Surgical mesh, Gynemesh, Polyform mesh, Apogee System, Perigee System, Pinnacle, and Advantage cystocele mesh, rectocele mesh, and are used for organ prolapse or urinary incontinence. Some women have one, some have two and some have three. Many have tried to get it removed only to find a new one has taken it's place. Women are in agony. Many can no longer work and others have seen their marriages fall apart. This Prolene mesh of many names makes it impossible to have rerlations without pain. Many women describe it as a knife cutting all the time. This is quite understandable as these synthetic plastic mesh placed inside a womens pelvic area are falling apart and eroding thru the vaginal wall. Many are eroding into the bladder and bowel causing a dangerous medical situation.

This mesh of many names has very severe complications. It can erode right thru the vaginal wall into the vaginal canal. Erode in it's simplest terms means cut right thru. The mesh causes relentless pain and infections that never stop. Many women have been on antibiotics for months on end which in and of itself is dangerous. The mesh can cause bleeding and the return of incontinence and prolapse with a vengence. This can be incontinence and re prolapse of the bladder or the bowel. There can be gastrointestinal problems, lower back pain, pain on one side, leg pain, neurological issues and the result is lives destroyed and severe emotional and psychological problems.

This mesh of many names has caused deaths. Some of these do to medical reasons and some do to choice in reaction to a sense of victimization that there appears to be no end to. Doctors are not listening, and if they have found one there is no longer insurance or funds for surgery. We have talked to women of all ages from 33 to 86. Who would put a mesh into a senior or a women still intent on having children is beyond me. We have spoken to women who have become pregnant with a piece of prolene mesh right there waiting for child birth. Some of it failing apart internally right in the pelvic region with very sharp edges.

With all the warnigs, stories and lawsuits the FDA has not recalled the mesh and many doctors are still putting it in. They believe the ones they put in will not fail. These are just not the ones that are falling apart. Somehow they are the magic doctor. Johnson and Johnson has pulled most of their Gynecare mesh products off the market under the Ethicon label and changed the labeling on one for warnings against vaginal implantation. However, this was just a business decision they say.  There was nothing wrong with the mesh at all.

Many names  yet, all a vaginal mesh.

• A Mesh is A Mesh Is A Mesh
• Pelvitex
• Pelvisoft
• Pelvilace or Pelvicol
• Utrtex
• Uretex TO
• Uretex TOO2
• Uretex TOO3
• A Mesh is a Mesh is A Mesh     
• TVT Exact
• TVT Abbrevo
• TVT Retropubic System
• TVT
• TVT Obturator
• TVT Secur
• Gynemesh PS
• Prolift
• Prolift+M
• MiniArc Precise Single-Incision Sling
• MiniArc Single Incision Sling
• Monarc Subfascial Hammock
• In-Fast Ultra Transvaginal Sling
• BioArc
• Sparc Self-Fixating Sling System
• Elevate
• Perigree
• Apogee
• Arise
• Tyco Covidian Duo
• Mentor ObTape
• Coloplast Mesh
• Pinnacle
• Advantage Fit
• Lynx
• Prefyx PPS
• Scientific Solyx

So many names, so many mesh so much pain and so much suffering.

If you have one of these mesh under so many different names it is still a mesh and you must come forward and fill your pelvic ,msh lawsuit immediately. The statute of limitations is running close. We cannot let anyone be left out. These mesh manufacturers must hear your voices and just must be sort for women everywhere with a mesh.

Vaginal Mesh Helpline is seeking women nationwide with a coloplast vaginal mesh to assist with locating a vaginal mesh lawyer for the Coloplast MDL vaginal mesh lawsuit. Leader ship roles have been assigned for lawyers in the coloplast MDL litigation.

Updated News On the Coloplast Vaginal Mesh

October 1, 2012 — Judge Joseph R. Goodwin has assigned leadership roles in the newly-formed Coloplast vaginal mesh Multidistrict Litigation (MDL). Three attorneys have been assigned Co-Lead Counsel roles on behalf of plaintiffs who were injured by Coloplast vaginal mesh. The MDL is currently located in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

After an MDL is formed, one of the first steps is assigning attorneys to play leadership roles. The Coloplast MDL was formed on August 6, 2012, by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigations (JPML). The JPML has assigned several vaginal mesh MDLs to Judge Goodwin’s court. The other MDLs are against manufacturers Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon), C.R. Bard, American Medical Systems, and Boston Scientific.

Judge Goodwin has already assigned leadership roles in the other MDLs. This includes a massive Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, which involves 60 attorneys assigned various duties. He has also assigned several attorneys to coordinate common issues among the five MDLs. There may be matters of fact and legal issues that are common to the various litigations, and coordinating these issues may expedite the litigation.

Judge Goodwin has expressed his desire to expedite the Coloplast MDL as much as possible, to catch up with the other MDLs that are already proceeding.

On September 21, Judge Goodwin assigned three attorneys to serve as Co-Lead Counsel in the Coloplast litigation. One of these attorneys was  Mark Mueller, od Austin Texas. He  will have many responsibilities in the litigation, including speaking for plaintiffs during pre-trial proceedings, submitting and arguing motions, examining witnesses, introducing evidence, and more.

Coloplast Vaginal Mesh, Transvaginal Mesh Products

• Novasilk – Synthetic Flat Mesh

• Suspend – Tutoplast Processed Fascia Lata
• Suspend – Tutoplast Processed Fascia Lata

• Exair – Prolapse Repair System
• Exair – Prolapse Repair System

• Axis – Tutoplast Processed Dermis
• Axis – Tutoplast Processed Dermis

• Restorelle Smartmesh – Prolapse Repair System
• Restorelle Smartmesh – Prolapse Repair System

SUSPEND VAGINAL MESH ALSO KNOWN AS A TRANSVAGINAL MESH: This is made from biologic human material and claims to integrate nicely into the human body to adequately treat POP, with little to no complications.

AXIS VAGINAL MESH: This is another product made from biologic material taken from the back of the leg. Again, they claim that it integrates well into the body to treat POP adequately.

NOVASILK VAGINAL MESH: This is a synthetic Transvaginal Mesh used to treat several types of POP. They claim that there are fewer complications because there is less material implanted than with other meshes.

EXAIR VAGINAL MESH: This is a polypropylene mesh used to reinforce a prolapsed pelvic floor.

The Vaginal Mesh Helpline is gearing up for what they feel is a second round outreach to some of the largest cities in the United States to inform women about the bladder mesh and vaginal mesh class action. "We expect a new wave of T.V ads by lawyers after the election and we are ready."" Women see lawyer ads on T.V and they have alot of questions".Says the helpline medical social worker"."They want to speak to someone they feel safe and comfortable with so they call us". "Women need to understand that they are not alone and the basic concepts of the vaginal mesh district litigation concept."

The vaginal mesh lawsuit proceedings have begun" We want all women to have the opportunity for compensation. We want you to get medical and legal help".Says the helpline representatives. "We have the staff and capacity to help women. We are reaching out to offer  support and guidance"."They just feel more comfortable with a  social worker then a law firm"

The MDL proceedings in West Virginia has begun  against six different vaginal mesh  manufacturers. The vaginal mesh implants cited in the lawsuit are Gynemesh, TVT, the Prolift system, Prolift+M, Prolene Mesh, and the Prosima system.

 Four vaginal mesh MDLs were established to consolidate the mesh lawsuits against these  manufacturers. All of the vaginal mesh MDLs are being overseen by Chief District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of West Virginia. The first vaginal mesh bellwether trial is scheduled to begin on February 5, 2013. The Vaginal Mesh helpline is attempting to locate all women with complications from a vaginal mesh implanted after 2001.
 

The helpline is available 24 hrs, 7 days to help women nationwide. The outreach is starting with the largest cities and it will be quite the undertaking. We are impressed with their mission and especially the time that is spent with each and every woman caller.

This outreach is a massive undertaking for the Vaginal Mesh Helpline. Their mission is clear and they are ready. They expect to be adding 5-10 new cities a week until they have the major cities in the U.S covered.

The first round Vaginal Mesh Outreach  project will be launched in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, and San Jose,  This outreach is expected to be done in about a week to ten days.

Second vaginal mesh Outreach Campaign will include:Jacksonville, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Austin, Columbus, Fort Worth, Charlotte, Detroit,  and El Paso,

The Vaginal Mesh information launch will then continue to Baltimore, Boston, Seattle, Washington, DC, Denver, Milwaukee, Portland and, Las Vegas,

Additional vaginal mesh lawsuits  outreach launches  are in the works to commence before the end of the year and are slated for Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, Tucson, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Kansas City, Mesa, Virginia Beach, Atlanta, Colorado Springs, Omaha, Raleigh, Miami,  Cleveland, Tulsa, Oakland, Minneapolis, Wichita, and Arlington,

It is amazing how many women  are still wondering waht their complications are from and do not realize it is the mesh until they see a Lawyer ad on T.V. It also amazes us how few doctors there are willing to help and given that so many of these women have lost their jobs and health insurance there are no clinics or programs for them. That is why they must get their due compensation and help in the additional surgeries that they need.mesh,

The Vaginal Mesh Helpline will keep you updated on all the most recent news. Our vaginal mesh network of lawyers is filing mesh lawsuits on behalf of women with a failed Prolene mesh. The mesh was used for urinary incontinence in 100's of women.

Published on Saturday 15 September 2012 21:02

Botox injections may help women with urinary incontinence, The Daily Telegraph has today reported. The newspaper said that injecting the muscle-freezing toxin into the wall of the bladder can have a long-lasting impact on overactive bladder syndrome, a major cause of incontinence.

The newspaper’s story is based on a UK medical trial that investigated whether the paralysing properties of botox were effective at reducing the symptoms such as frequently using the toilet, feeling an urgent need to urinate, and leakage in patients with overactive bladder syndrome.

The trial featured 240 women who had not responded to medical treatments for overactive balder syndrome. The researchers found that women who received the botox injection experienced these symptoms significantly less frequently than women who received a dummy injection of saltwater. However, women given botox were more likely to get urinary tract infections.

The results of the study indicate that botox may be effective in treating a common and upsetting health condition. However, if it does get adopted into use in this way there are several other treatment options (including lifestyle measures, bladder training exercises and medication that would be considered first. Botox may be considered as an option only if these treatments fail, and the benefits would have to be considered in relation to its potential harms.

Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Leicester and was funded by the Moulton Charitable Trust and the women’s health charity Wellbeing of Women.

The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal European Urology.

The Telegraph covered this study appropriately, covering the study size and design, as well as the treatment benefits and harms.

What kind of research was this?

While it is hard to gauge the true scale of the problem, research suggests that around 13% of women in the UK may have some form of urinary incontinence. Although many conditions and factors can cause urinary incontinence, one major cause is overactive bladder syndrome. The condition is marked by uncontrolled contraction of the bladder that results in an urgent need to pass urine. While this can lead women to need the toilet frequently, some also experience a form of leakage called urge incontinence.

An overactive bladder can be a cause of urge incontinence, which is when urine leaks at the same time or just after you feel an intense urge to pass urine. Urge incontinence differs from stress incontinence, where the pelvic floor muscles are too weak to prevent urination. This causes urine to leak when your bladder is placed under pressure from actions such as coughing or laughing.

This was a placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial that examined the effectiveness and safety of using botulinum toxin (botox) as a treatment for overactive bladder syndrome. A randomised controlled trial is the best way to measure the effectiveness of a treatment, as the randomisation process helps to ensure that any patient characteristics that may influence the outcome have an equal chance of appearing in either treatment group. This allows researchers to be confident that any observed effect is due to the treatment under study.

What did the research involve?

The researchers enrolled 240 women with bladder muscle overactivity, or overactive bladder syndrome, that had not responded to previous treatment. The women were randomly allocated injections of either Botulinum toxin A (botox) or placebo (saltwater) into the wall of the bladder. Women with another common type of incontinence, stress incontinence, were not included in the study.

The participants kept a diary over three days, recording the number of times they:

    emptied their bladder
    felt an urgent need to empty their bladder
    experienced an unintentional passing of urine (or leakage)

The women also completed a questionnaire that assessed their quality of life, as overactive bladder syndrome often has a significant negative impact on patient quality of life.

The researchers conducted follow-up sessions with the women on average at six weeks, three months and six months after treatment. They assessed differences in the frequency of the above three symptoms between the two treatment groups. They also compared quality of life scores, treatment complications and time until troubling symptoms returned between the two groups.

The researchers used appropriate statistical methods to assess differences in frequency of symptoms between the two groups.

What were the basic results?

There were 122 women allocated to the botox treatment group and 118 women allocated to the placebo group.

The researchers compared the outcomes in the botox and placebo groups at the six-month follow-up. They found that in any 24-hour period women in the botox group:

    emptied their bladders less often: 8.33 times versus 9.67 times, a difference of 1.34 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00 to 2.33, p=0.0001)
    experienced fewer leakage episodes: 1.67 versus 6.00, a difference of 4.33 episodes (95% CI 3.33 to 5.67, p<0.0001)
    experienced fewer episodes of urgency to urinate: 3.83 versus 6.33, a difference of 2.50 episodes (95% CI 1.33 to 3.33, p<0.0001)

Almost a one-third of women in the botox group (31.3%) developed bladder control (or continence) following their treatment, compared to 12.0% in the placebo group (Odds Ratio [OR] 3.12, 95% CI 1.49 to 6.52, p=0.002).

However, urinary tract infection was reported at least once during six months by a one-third of women in the botox treatment group, compared to 10% in the placebo group (OR 3.68, 95% CI 1.72 to 8.25, p=0.0003).

Those given botox also reported greater difficulty emptying their bladders, which required self-catheterisation to remove their urine: 16% of the botox group compared to 4% of the placebo group (OR 4.87, 95% CI 1.52 to 20.33, p=0.003).

How did the researchers interpret the results?

The researchers concluded that injections of botulinum toxin A into the bladder wall is an effective and safe treatment for overactive bladder syndrome in women who have not responded to previous treatment.

Conclusion

Urinary incontinence can be a distressing and problematic condition, and although we cannot be sure of the number of people affected, research suggests it is surprisingly common.

While there is a range of potential treatments and ways to manage urinary incontinence (including medication, bladder training, lifestyle changes and surgery) not all people respond to them, and they can have problems. This randomised controlled trial provided good evidence that botox injections may be a useful treatment option for women with incontinence due to overactive bladder syndrome that has proven difficult to treat with other methods.

The researchers say that the relief of symptoms reported by the participants was considerably better than those who used oral anticholinergic drugs. These drugs act on the nerve supply to the bladder and are the standard medical treatment used for this condition. They add that other randomised controlled trials have reported similar effects.

The researchers say that since they designed their trial, other studies have published results that support using a lower recommended dose of botox for this type of treatment. Therefore, it is unclear if the same results would be found at this reduced dose. They also say that their study recruited participants with severe cases of overactive bladder syndrome, and that it is unclear if the treatment would be as effective in less severe cases.

It is important to note that the study participants did not have stress incontinence, which is a common cause of urinary incontinence. Therefore, the results of this study cannot be generalised to all women with symptoms of overactive bladder or incontinence, but can only be applied to those with diagnosed overactive bladder syndrome (or detrusor overactivity).

Botox is not routinely used by the NHS in this way, but if it were then it would probably be considered as an option only among women who have required specialist referral for their condition. This would be given after they had tried other treatment options first, which may include lifestyle measures and bladder training exercises in addition to oral medications. If these treatments fail, the benefits of botox would have to be considered in relation to its potential harms.

Vaginal Mesh Helpline reports that  a women has finally had enough and protests the vaginal mesh. The Vaginal Mesh Helpline and vaginal mesh lawyers applaud. Perhaps this will become a trend and we will begin to see protests thru-out the country. and is being offered to our readers.
The Vaginal Mesh Helpline is gearing up for what they feel is a second round outreach to some of the largest cities in the United States. "We expect a new wave of T.V ads by lawyers after the election and we are ready."" Women see lawyer ads on T.V and they have alot of questions".Says the helpline medical social worker."They want to speak to someone they feel safe and comfortable with and they call us".

The vaginal mesh lawsuit proceedings have begun" We want all women covered and we want them to get medical and legal help", the helpline representatives tell us. "We have the staff and capacity to help women by offering support and guidance"."They just feel more comfortable with a  social worker then a law firm"

The outreach is a massive undertaking for the Vaginal Mesh Helpline. Their mission is clear and they are ready. They expect to be adding 5-10 new cities a week until they have the major cities in the U.S covered.  The helpline is seeking all women who have not filed their vaginal mesh lawsuit "to stand up and seek justice"

The first round Vaginal Mesh Outreach projected reach the following cities to be:

New York, N.Y.,
Los Angeles, Calif., http://www.vaginalmeshhelpline.com
Chicago, Ill.,
Houston, Tex.,
Philadelphia, Pa,.
Phoenix, Ariz,.
San Antonio, Tex.,
San Diego, Calif.,
Dallas, Tex.,
San Jose, Calif.,

Second vaginal mesh Outreach Campaign

Jacksonville, Fla., http://www.vaginalmeshhelpline.com
Indianapolis, Ind.,
San Francisco, Calif.,
Austin, Tex., http://www.vaginalmeshhelpline.com
Columbus, Ohio,
Fort Worth, Tex.,
Charlotte, N.C.,
Detroit, Mich.,
El Paso, Tex.,
Memphis, Tenn.,

Third round of Vaginal Mesh Outreach

Baltimore, Md.,
Boston, Mass.,
Seattle, Wash.,
Washington, DC,
Nashville,
Denver, Colo.,
Louisville,
Milwaukee, Wis.,
Portland, Ore.,
Las Vegas, Nev.,

Additional Vaginal Mesh Lawsuits Outreach

Oklahoma City, Okla,
Albuquerque, N.M.,
Tucson, Ariz.,
Fresno, Calif.,
Sacramento, Calif.,
Long Beach, Calif.,
Kansas City, Mo.,
Mesa, Ariz.,
Virginia Beach, Va.,
Atlanta, Ga.,
Colorado Springs, Colo.,
Omaha, Nebr.,
Raleigh, N.C.,
Miami, Fla.,
Cleveland, Ohio,
Tulsa, Okla.,
Oakland, Calif,.
Minneapolis, Minn.,
Wichita, Kans.,
Arlington,,

The Vaginal Mesh Helpline is always keeping women updated on new related vaginal mesh news, medical information and vaginal mesh lawsuits. We just found this article and are sharing it with our followers.

Botox Approved, Again, This Time for Urinary Incontinence
By Meredith Melnick | @meredithcm | August 26, 2011 | 54For those of you who have been keeping track, Botox, the symbol of vanity and Bravo’s Real Housewives, actually has a variety of medical uses: it’s government-approved to treat chronic migraines, muscle problems, underarm sweating and a number of other conditions. Now add to that, urinary incontinence.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Botox, or botulinum toxin, to treat incontinence in patients with neurological conditions like spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. It’s the seventh condition that Botox has been approved to treat since the drug first arrived on the market as a wrinkle reducer in 2002.

How does it treat urinary incontinence? In some patients with neurological conditions, overactivity in the bladder leads to an inability to store urine. By injecting Botox directly into the bladder to relax it, patients are offered for more muscle control and less incontinence.

In two clinical trials involving 691 patients with incontinence due to spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis, those who got Botox had a significant reduction in weekly incontinence episodes, compared to a placebo group, the FDA said. The most common adverse effects were urinary tract infection and urinary retention.

Given that incontinence is so difficult to manage — typically involving drugs to relax the bladder and the use of a catheter to empty it — Botox may give some patients another option. One injection may help control incontinence for up to 10 months, the FDA said.

The approval also opens the door to yet more uses for Botox, made by Allergan, the New York Times reported:

    The drug has been studied for more than 100 medical conditions in all, according to Caroline Van Hove, company spokeswoman. “Anything from writer’s cramp to anal fissure to Parkinson’s disease. That’s why we say it’s a pipeline in a vial,” she said Wednesday.

Botox sales reached about $1.5 billion worldwide in 2010, roughly split between cosmetic and therapeutic purposes.

Perhaps this is something that can help after mesh removal. Our vaginal mesh lawyers are currently filing vaginal mesh lawsuits.

Use of Vaginal Sling During Surgery Linked to Increased Urethral Sling Complications 1 877 522-2123

Vaginal Mesh Helpline Medical  Update reports on a June 21, 2012 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, which found that though the insertion of a vaginal sling during surgery decreases the chances of postoperative urinary incontinence, it carries higher risks of urethral sling complications.*

The study analyzed data from 337 participants who underwent surgery to treat pelvic organ prolapse (“POP”) between May 2007 and October 2009. The women were randomly assigned either a vaginal sling or sham incisions. The study found:

        After three months, 23.6 percent of women with the sling had urinary incontinence, compared to 49.4 percent without a vaginal sling.

        After 12 months, 27.3 percent of patients with the sling suffered from urinary incontinence, compared to 43 percent of those without.

        Those implanted with the sling suffered complications. Nearly seven percent of the sling group suffered bladder perforation, versus none in the control group.

        31 percent of women experienced urinary tract infections as a urethral sling complication, versus 18.3 percent in the non-sling group.

        Bleeding complications occurred in 3.1 percent of the sling group; incomplete bladder emptying occurred in 3.7 percent of the sling group. Neither occurred at all in the non-sling group.

Urethral Sling Complications Adds To Concerns About Vaginal Mesh Side Effects

According to an accompany commentary to the study, vaginal mesh slings are different from other types of transvaginal mesh used for POP repair. The slings are small and shaped like straps, approximately 1 cm wide and 10 cm long, while vaginal mesh sheets can span up to 10 cm wide and 20 cm long. In September 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) convened a panel to evaluate the safety of vaginal mesh implants. Although the agency recommended post market studies for transvaginal mesh, they did not require such studies for midurethral slings. The latest study raises questions about the risks and benefits of vaginal mesh slings. The FDA noted that the vaginal sling provides an “anatomic” benefit, but may not result in better symptomatic results. Since the study was limited to a one year follow up, the long-term consequences of urethral sling complications are still unknown.

Current vaginal mesh lawsuits are increasing. There are numerous vaginal mesh related implants creating severe complications. Many women do not realize that all of these are mesh devices and are part of the huge vaginal mesh lawsuits. The Vaginal mesh helpline currently has a number of pre screened experienced Tort lawyers  for women seeking to file vaginal mesh lawsuits. We cxan also help with doctors in some states.

At The Vaginal Mesh Helpline we are always on the lookout for help for women who are looking for alternatives to the bladder slings and vaginal mesh devices that have been causing severe complications in women. Below is an article we found that reviews some of the various techniques.

Vaginal Mesh News, Urinary Incontinence, Bladder sling Alternative

For women with Urinary incontinence we found these alternative procedures to the vaginal mesh and also the Bladder Sling.  The Vaginal mesh has been the focus of many lawsuits and controversies. J&J just pulled four Gynacare products off the market and changed the label for the fifth just recently. Below is an overview of procedures.

BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most common type of urinary incontinence, affecting 15 million women in the United States alone. SUI is the involuntary leakage of urine which occurs during periods of increased intra-abdominal pressure (“stress”).

CAUSE: The primary cause of SUI is inadequate support of the bladder resulting in leaks during activity. SUI affects women of all ages, including approximately 25% of women age 30-59 years, particularly those who have delivered at least one baby vaginally

Other factors that may worsen stress urinary incontinence include: urinary tract infection, obesity, smoking, diabetes, excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine, and sports like running or tennis. (Source: Mayo Clinic

COMMON SYMPTOMS: If you have SUI, you may experience urinary leakage when you: cough, sneeze, laugh, stand up, lift something heavy or exercise.(Source: Mayo Clinic)

SURGICAL OPTIONS:

Injectable bulking agents: Collagen, synthetic sugars or gels may be injected into tissues around the upper portion of the urethra. These materials increase pressure on the urethra, improving the closing ability of the sphincter. Because this intervention is relatively noninvasive and inexpensive, it may be an appropriate treatment alternative to try before other surgical options.

Open retropubic colposuspension: This procedure is often used to treat women with stress incontinence. Sutures attached either to ligaments or to bone lift and support tissues near the bladder neck and upper portion of the urethra.

The Controversal Sling Procedure In this procedure most often performed in women, the surgeon uses the person’s own tissue or a synthetic material to create a “sling” that supports the urethra. Slings for men are used less frequently, but this surgical approach is under investigation. A recently developed technique using a mesh sling has proved effective in easing symptoms of stress incontinence in men. (Source: Mayo Clinic) This procedure has been the central focus of thousands of vaginal mesh lawsuits.

RENESSA: Renessa is a non-surgical treatment for women who experience SUI. The Renessa treatment uses a small device which your physician passes through your urethra. It involves the controlled heating of microscopic tissue sites at the base of your bladder, after which the device is immediately removed.

There are no catheters, bandages or dressings to change. It takes about 45 minutes. The full effect of treatment is typically seen within 60-90 days.

We have heard so many horror stories regarding the sling that we gasp at the thought of anyone opting for that as this point. However, a Urogynecologist may be able to offer you an opionion and alternate procdedure.