Bladder Mesh Failure Attorneys

Many patients think of bladder mesh as a sort of safety net. It’s a supportive device that cradles and lifts internal organs, keeping them and the rest of the body safe from harm. Yet, what happens when this safety net fails?

Bladder mesh was once an important tool in treating serious conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. However, this once-touted medical device may be responsible for letting thousands of patients down, creating significant medical complications and side effects. Victims are forced to come to terms with the fact that they may need more surgeries and more medical treatments to correct problems. Once hopeful patients desperate for a solution to their medical condition now find themselves on the other end of a medical nightmare.

The defective medical devices attorneys of Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP are sensitive to the fact that you feel wronged and vulnerable after a bladder mesh failure. Dealing with the side effects of a bladder mesh device and handling a condition such as pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence can be difficult. These issues are hard to talk about, especially with strangers. The attorneys with Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP want to encourage you to speak out about your situation and seek the help you deserve when it comes to recovering compensation for your injuries.

Our team is made up of professional and experienced lawyers who will listen to you and handle your case with compassion and sensitivity. If you are ready to talk about your experience in a safe and confidential environment, contact us today at (205) 324-1212 to schedule a free case evaluation.

What is a Bladder Mesh?

Bladder mesh is a screen-like or net-like substance that is typically made from synthetic materials or polymers like polypropylene. Bladder mesh is a tool used to help treat those suffering from medical conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse or POP and stress urinary incontinence or SUI. Pelvic organ prolapse is technically a type of hernia. The muscles, ligaments, and other fibers in the pelvis that support the bladder, uterus, and rectum can weaken, especially due to childbirth.

When this begins to happen, these organs can start to “fall” into the vagina, causing pain, pressure, and medical complications. Bladder mesh may be implanted into the pelvic region to help support and stabilize these organs since the weakened muscles are no longer able to provide the necessary support.

Stress urinary incontinence is a medical condition where urine leaks out of the body due to sudden pressure being placed on the bladder and urethra. This pressure can come from vigorous activities such as exercise or even mundane activities such as the average sneeze or a laugh. This condition can impact men and women. However, women are more prone to developing SUI. The condition can be triggered when the muscles of the pelvis, also known as the pelvic floor, become stretched, weakened, or damaged in some way, often due to childbirth.

Bladder mesh may be inserted to help support the muscles. In many cases of SUI, the bladder mesh is referred to as a bladder sling. The sling is a small strip of net-like material that is placed under the urethra to help support it and prevent it from moving downward and creating pressure during activities. Think of how a sling helps cradle an arm when it is injured; bladder mesh works in much the same way.

Medical techniques involving the use of a mesh-like material, either synthetic or using a patient’s own tissue, have been used to treat hernias since the 1950s, according to Yale Medicine. Different iterations of the sling and mesh from a variety of manufacturers began getting FDA approval for use in the treatment of SUI and POP in the 90s and into the early 2000s.

Bladder Mesh Complications and Side Effects

The side effects of living with a condition like SUI or POP are painful and sometimes embarrassing. The constant pain and pressure associated with pelvic organ prolapse can make completing even routine tasks uncomfortable. Leaks from untreated stress urinary incontinence can turn vibrant and active people apprehensive about engaging in exercise or social interactions because of embarrassment. The hope of correcting these medical conditions has led several people to rely on bladder mesh for comfort and relief.

Unfortunately for many patients, inserting bladder mesh has not given them the much sought-after relief they were hoped to acquire. Instead, they are inundated with medical complications and side effects that can sometimes be worse than the condition itself. Some of the most common complications and side effects that have been reported include:

• Erosion of the mesh (mesh wears through tissue and becomes exposed)
• Pain
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Internal scarring
• Punctured and perforated organs
• Urinary problems
• Neuro-muscular issues
• Recurring of the prolapse

These problems may be so severe that additional and unexpected surgeries may be needed to remove the mesh or correct the complications that the mesh caused. The issues with bladder mesh have escalated to such a degree that in 2016 the FDA decided to reclassify mesh used for POP from a class II device to a class III device. This meant that the FDA received so many complaints a determination was made that the safety and effectiveness of mesh for POP repair needed additional clinical evidence and review. A class III medical device is considered one of the riskiest medical devices.

Complaints continued, and in 2019, the FDA issued a new order that required manufacturers to stop selling and distributing surgical mesh products intended for the treatment and repair of pelvic organ prolapse. After the 2016 declaration, many mesh manufacturers failed to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of their mesh as outlined and required by the FDA. While the measure seeks to prevent more people from falling victims to a bladder mesh disaster, for many, the damage had already been done.

Which Manufacturers Make Bladder Mesh?

Since bladder mesh goes by different names and can be used in the treatment of different medical conditions, it is important to talk to your doctor about what type of mesh was used and which manufacturer it came from. Numerous medical companies manufacture different types of medical-grade mesh that may have been used for your surgery. Many of these manufacturers are now facing legal ramifications for the harm they have caused to victims. Some of the companies that manufacture surgical mesh, including transvaginal mesh, bladder mesh, and bladder slings, include:

• American Medical Systems
• Boston Scientific
• Caldera Medical
• Coloplast Corp.
• Cook Medical
• C.R. Bard, Inc.
• DIMA S.L.
• Johnson & Johnson

Compensation for Bladder Mesh Injuries 

The complications and side effects from a bladder mesh implant can include pain, scarring, and traumatic medical complications. A mesh implant may also require additional and unplanned surgeries, as well as other types of medical intervention. Some patients may feel like they are being forced into a position where they have to choose between their physical health and their financial health. That doesn’t have to be the case.

Victims injured by bladder mesh complications may be able to recover compensation for their injuries and related medical expenses. This compensation may cover things such as:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish

While medical costs are typically the first concern for victims, money for bills isn’t the only thing a lawsuit may be able to recover. Bladder mesh complications can cause serious mental anguish and trauma. The nature of the side effects can be so severe as to impact sexual pleasure and function. This not only complicates the victim’s life, but it can also damage the victim’s relationship with their partner or spouse.

Bladder mesh manufacturers cannot be allowed to get away with physically and mentally traumatizing patients in need. At Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP, we want to help you hold these manufacturers accountable for their negligence and make sure that you have the money you need to cover your expenses and compensate you for your pain.

Get the Money You Deserve

You don’t have to suffer in silence. The attorneys with Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP want to listen to you and help you recover the money you deserve if a bladder mesh implant has caused your serious injury. Manufacturers, especially in the medical field, are required to ensure that they are delivering a safe and effective product to the marketplace. When they fail or are negligent in that duty, they must be held responsible.

At Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP, we have helped thousands of other victims just like you begin the process of holding these types of companies accountable for their actions. You can trust us to handle your case with care and sensitivity. You deserve compensation for your injuries and pain. We want to help you seek what you deserve. Contact us today by calling (205) 324-1212 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.