A recently published article in the BMJ, concludes that:
“Despite multiple warnings released by the US Food and Drug Administration since 2008, use of mesh in pelvic organ prolapse surgery continues to grow. In this statewide comprehensive study, mesh procedures were associated with an increased risk of reinterventions within one year and urinary retention after surgery.”….
Use and risks of surgical mesh for pelvic organ prolapse surgery in women in New York state: population based cohort study
2015; 350 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h2685 (Published 02 June 2015)
Abstract
Objective To assess the use of mesh in pelvic organ prolapse surgery, and compare short term outcomes between procedures using and not using mesh.
Design All inclusive, population based cohort study.
Setting Statewide surgical care captured in the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System.
Participants Women who underwent prolapse repair procedures in New York state from 2008 to 2011.
Main outcomes measures 90 day safety events and reinterventions within one year, after propensity score matching. Categorical, time to event, and subgroup analyses (<65 and ≥65 year age groups) were conducted.
Results Of 27 991 patients in total, 7338 and 20 653 underwent prolapse repair procedures with and without mesh, respectively. Mesh use increased by 44.7%, from 1461 procedures in 2008 to 2114 procedures in 2011. Most patients in the cohort were younger than 65 years (62.3% (n=17 424/27 991)). However, more patients were aged 65 years and older in the mesh group than in the non-mesh group (44.3% (n=3249) v 35.4% (n=7318)). Complications after surgery were not common, irrespective of the use or non-use of mesh. After propensity score matching, patients who received the surgery with mesh had a higher chance of having a reintervention within one year (mesh 3.3% v no mesh 2.2%, hazard ratio 1.47 (95% confidence interval 1.21 to 1.79)) and were more likely to have urinary retention within 90 days (mesh 7.5% v no mesh 5.6%, risk ratio 1.33 (95% confidence interval 1.18 to 1.51)), compared with those who received surgery without mesh. In subgroup analyses based on age, mesh use was associated with an increased risk of reintervention within one year in patients under age 65 years, and increased risk of urinary retention in patients aged 65 years and over.
Conclusions Despite multiple warnings released by the US Food and Drug Administration since 2008, use of mesh in pelvic organ prolapse surgery continues to grow. In this statewide comprehensive study, mesh procedures were associated with an increased risk of reinterventions within one year and urinary retention after surgery.
So, WHY are so many doctors STILL telling women that using mesh for the pelvic repairs is their best bet? Or that it will “last longer”, has a “low risk of complications”, is not the same “bad mesh“, or all the other LIES that keep being spread?? Women believe them. Those in support of mesh downplay the media and lawsuits and FDA warnings. How long can the doctors plead ignorance on this, and only blame the manufacturers for giving them wrong information? How long can the FDA and AUGs sit back and keep letting this happen? Meanwhile, more and more women are being implanted with mesh, and more and more are having horrific complications.
It’s NOT right.
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Related links :
Upstate NY Support for Mesh Complications: https://meshmenot.wordpress.com/2015/02/07/upstate-ny-support-for-mesh-complications/ - Are you a GOOD mesh? Or a BAD mesh? https://meshmenot.wordpress.com/2015/05/31/are-you-a-good-mesh-or-a-bad-mesh/
- Top 10 Things to Know About Mesh BEFORE Having Surgery for POP or SUI: https://meshmenot.wordpress.com/top-10-things-to-know-about-mesh-before-surgery-for-pop-sui/
- Is it Just Transvaginal Mesh Causing Problems?: https://meshmenot.wordpress.com/2015/05/30/is-it-just-transvaginal-mesh-causing-problems
- FDA warns there is NO evidence that mesh provided any greater clinical benefit than non-mesh surgeries: https://meshmenot.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/fda-warns-there-is-no-evidence-that-mesh-provided-any-greater-clinical-benefit-than-non-mesh-surgeries/
- Top 10 Myths Woman are Told Today about Pelvic Mesh: https://meshmenot.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/top-10-myths-woman-are-told-today-about-pelvic-mesh/
- It’s NOT enough. We need help! https://meshmenot.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/help/
- Mesh Problems: An OPEN/PUBLIC group, where anyone can ask questions and get information on mesh: https://www.facebook.com/groups/meshproblems/
- Links to many other articles, blogs, support groups, and resources on the bottom of this blog
Mesh Me Not 
Dear Deb, Of late I have once again developed feelings of betrayal. I placed my trust in a Doctor who I truly thought believed me when I discussed the effects my Gynecare TVT Exact Sling. He removed my sling and believes 99.9% of it is gone. Infection set in within 2 days and it took 9 weeks of and open wound to heal. I knew he was skeptical but recently I have heard this..”Poor Jan, She believes mesh has caused all her problems.” Her weight is excessive and she has a lot of health issues.” Yes I have a weight problem my abdomen looks like I swallowed a Beach Ball!!!! Gained 60#’s in 3 years. My Legs, Ankles and Feet swell everyday!!!!! Total Incontinence!!! I have Pelvic Pain that radiates through my hips and lower back, Lichen Sclerosus of the vulvar, skin lesions etc. I had none of this before mesh, I was a physically active 58 year old women. I never had to exercise for my work and daily activities kept me in shape. My spirit is almost broken. Will you wake me up when this nightmare of Denials, Abandonment’s, and Neglect are over. Mesh never leaves you…….Women’s Lives Matter. Thank you for all you do!!!! Jan
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I’m so sorry., Jan. This is all too common example of how so many women with mesh complications are treated. I hate to say it, but if I were you I would also have to question if this doctor did indeed remove most or all of your mesh. ? Most docs do not/can not… but many have told patients that they did. I think, in part, because they think it is not possible to remove more (wrong), and also because so many of them believe our symptoms are in our heads and if WE believe the mesh is gone, we will magically get better. (yeah, right!) Do you have a copy of the surgery report, and pathology report showing how much mesh was actually extracted? If not, please get these. Dr. Raz even showed me the mesh after the surgery that he removed, AND gave me pictures of the mesh, and surgery. I also have copies of my reports. It is reasonable to want this information. Don’t let them make you feel like you are crazy!
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