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Pelvic Mesh Lawsuit Update

2024 – We are accepting pelvic mesh and sling revision/removal claims.

$1.6+ billion in settlements and $240+ million verdicts in pelvic mesh lawsuits for women injured by pelvic mesh products have been awarded since 2011. While most verdicts are appealed and settle for much lower amounts, these awards show the successes women have in transvaginal mesh injury litigation.

$2.5 Million Verdict against Coloplast

$2.5 million was awarded to Virginia Redding against Coloplast for injuries she suffered from her pelvic mesh implant in April 2022. The jury found the mesh was defectively designed and that mesh company did not provide the implanting surgeon with adequate warnings about the risks, made negligent misrepresentations regarding the mesh’s risks, and fraudulently concealed those risks, which caused her injuries. For further in depth information, click the video link to review the medical legal animation in the podcast: Failed Transvaginal Mesh Injury Lawsuit Podcast.

Complications Reported

In 2019, the FDA stopped the sale of some types of pelvic mesh products to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP). However, many manufacturers still sell pelvic mesh and bladder slings and other transvaginal mesh products to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women.  Complaints associated with transvaginal mesh devices include:

  • chronic pelvic pain
  • urinary problems and/or incontinence
  • pain during sexual intercourse
  • recurrence of prolapsed bladder or uterus
  • infection and abscess
  • aching, burning or stabbing pain in the pudendal nerve area
  • pelvic bleeding

These symptoms have been linked to complications of the mesh, including:

  • bowel, bladder, and blood vessel perforation
  • pelvic floor damage
  • pudendal nerve damage
  • mesh erosion or extrusion through the vaginal tissue
  • mesh contracture or shrinkage
  • chronic inflammation
  • fistula creation
  • internal scar tissue formation

Treatment of complications includes additional surgical procedures to revise or remove the mesh and slings, decompress the pudendal nerve, repair of  fistulas and damage to other pelvic organs and nerves. Other treatment includes drainage of hematomas and abscesses from infection, medication, pain injections, Botox injections, pulsed radio frequency ablation, Ketamine infusion, bulking agents, electrode therapy, physical pelvic therapy, pessary insertion to alleviate the pain and dysfunction associated with pelvic mesh complications.

Pelvic Mesh Products and Manufacturers

Johnson & Johnson/Ethicon

Gynecare TVT, Abbrevo, Exact, Secur, Prolift, Prosima

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  • Retropubic Sling
  • Mid Urethral Sling
  • Exact TVT
  • Gynecare Abbrevo TVT
  • Gynemesh

Ethicon Products no longer on the market

  • Gynecare Abbrevo TVT
  • Gynemesh PS
  • Prolene Polypropylene Mesh Patch
  • Exact
  • Secur
  • Prolift+
  • Prolift +M
  • Prosima

Bard

Avaulta, Align, Pelvicol, Pelvitex

Bard Products no longer on the market

  • Avaulta PlusTM
  • BioSynthetic Support System
  • Avaulta Solo Synthetic Support System
  • Faslata® Allograft
  • Pelvicol® Tissue
  • PelviSoft® Biomesh
  • Pelvitex Polypropylene Mesh

Boston Scientific

Advantage, Obtryx, Solyx, Lynx, Uphold, Pinnacle, Prefix

  • Advantage™ Mid-Urethral Sling System
  • Obtryx® Transobturator Mid-Urethral Sling System
  • Solyx

Boston Scientific Products no longer on the market

  • Lynx
  • Prefyx Mid UTM Mesh Sling System
  • Prefyx PPSTM System
  • Pinnacle® Anterior-Apical Pelvic Floor Repair Kit
  • Pinnacle® Posterior Pelvic Floor Repair Kit
  • Pinnacle® Duet Pelvic Floor Repair Kit – Boston Scientific Uphold Vaginal Support System
  • Uphold

Coloplast

Altis, Aris, Supris, Retorelle Y Mesh

  • Altis
  • Aris
  • Supris
  • Restorelle Y Mesh
  • Restorelle Flat Mesh
  • Restorelle L Mesh

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What Is Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP)?

A woman’s pelvic organs, including the uterus, bladder and rectum, can slip and create a bulge in the vagina after the muscles, tissues and ligaments supporting those organs weaken. Causes include: childbirth, hysterectomy, menopause, heavy lifting chronic coughing, constipation, obesity, previous pelvic surgery, neurological conditions or injuries.

Classification of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

  • Cystocele – also known as bladder prolapse, is one of the most common types of pelvic organ prolapse. A bulge or dropping of the anterior vaginal wall causes the bladder to slip into the bulge
  • Urethrocele – the female urethra slips in the vagina
  • Uterine prolapse – the uterus slips in the vagina
  • Vaginal prolapse – the vaginal walls begin to drop and cause vagina to turn inside out
  • Vaginal vault prolapse – the vagina’s upper portion slips in the vaginal canal or outside the vagina
  • Rectal prolapse – the rectum turns inside out and protrudes through the anus
  • Enterocele – the small intestines bulge between the uterus and rectum or bulge on the top of the vagina
  • Rectocele – the rectum bulges into the posterior vaginal wall

Types of Reconstructive Surgery with Mesh or Slings

  • Colporrhaphy—Used to treat prolapse of the anterior (front) wall of the vagina and prolapse of the posterior (back) wall of the vagina. This type of surgery is performed through the vagina. Stitches are used to strengthen the vagina so that it once again supports the bladder or the rectum.
  • Sacrocolpopexy—Used to treat vaginal vault prolapse and enterocele. It can be done with an abdominal incision or with laparoscopy. Surgical mesh is attached to the front and back walls of the vagina and then to the sacrum (tail bone). This lifts the vagina back into place.
  • Sacrohysteropexy—Used to treat uterine prolapse when a woman does not want a hysterectomy. Surgical mesh is attached to the cervix and then to the sacrum, lifting the uterus back into place.
  • Vaginally placed mesh—Used to treat all types of prolapse. Can be used in women whose own tissues are not strong enough for native tissue repair. Vaginally placed mesh has a significant risk of severe complications, including mesh erosion, pain, infection, and bladder or bowel injury. This type of surgery should be reserved for women in whom the benefits may justify the risks.Symptoms Include:
    • A bulge outside the vagina
    • Urination difficulty or frequent need to urinate
    • Constipation or difficulty having a bowel movement
    • Sensation of something falling out of the vagina
    • Stress Urinary Incontinence
    • Discomfort or pain in the vagina, pelvis, groin or lower abdomen or back
    • Tender or bleeding tissue protruding from the vagina
    • Painful intercourse

TVM Verdicts and Settlements

Note that most verdicts are appealed by the losing party and settle for much lower amounts.

  1. 7/12: $5.5 million – Christine Scott – C.R. Bard Avaulta Plus – CA
  2. 2/13: $11.11 million – Linda Gross – Ethicon/JJ Prolift – NJ
  3. 8/13: $2 million – Donna Cisson – C.R. Bard Avaulta – MDL WV
  4. 2/14: $0 – Carolyn Lewis – Ethicon/JJ TVT-O – MDL WV
  5. 4/14: $1.2 million – Linda Batiste – Ethicon/JJ TVT-O – TX
  6. 7/14: $0 – Diane Albright – Boston Scientific Pinnacle – MA
  7. 8/14: $0 – Maria Cardenas – Boston Scientific Obtryx – MA
  8. 9/14: $3.27 million – Jo Huskey – Ethicon/JJ TVT-O – MDL WV
  9. 9/14: $73.465 million – Martha Salazar – Boston Scientific Obtryx – TX  *
  10. 11/14: $6.7+ million – Amal Eghnayem – Boston Scientific Pinnacle – MDL FL
  11. 11/14: $6.7+ million – Margarita Dotres – Boston Scientific Pinnacle – MDL FL
  12. 11/14: $6.7+ million – Mania Nunez – Boston Scientific Pinnacle – MDL FL
  13. 11/14: $6.5+ million – Juana Betancourt – Boston Scientific Pinnacle – MDL FL
  14. 11/14: $5.25 million – Jeanie Blankenship – Boston Scientific Obtryx – MDL WV
  15. 11/14: $4.75 million – Chris Wilson – Boston Scientific Obtryx – MDL
  16. 11/14: $4.25 million – Carol Campbell – Boston Scientific Obtryx – MDL
  17. 11/14: $4.25 million – Jacquelyn Tyree – Boston Scientific Obtryx – MDL
  18. 2/15: Settled – Wise v. Bard in the MDL
  19. 3/15: Settled – Bellew v. Ethicon (Prolift) in the MDL
  20. 5/15: Settled – Sanchez v. Boston Scientific (Pinnacle) – CA
  21. 3/15: $5.7 million – Coleen Perry – Ethicon/JJ Abbrevo sling – CA
  22. 5/15: $100 million – Deborah Barda v. Boston Scientific Pinnacle and Advantage Fit – DL
  23. 10/15: $0 – Carol Cavness v. Ethicon/JJ Prosima – TX
  24. 10/15: $0 – Martha Carlson v. Boston Scientific Uphold – NC
  25. 12/15: $12.5 million – Hammons v. Ethicon/JJ (Prolift) – PA
  26. 2/16: $0 – Sherrer v. Boston Scientific Solyx and Bard Align – MO
  27. 2/16: $13.5 – Carlino v. Ethicon/JJ (TVT) – PA
  28. 4/17: $20.0 million – Engleman v. Ethicon/JJ (TVT Secur) – PA
  29. 5/17: $2.16 million – Betz v. Ethicon/Prolift – PA
  30. 9/17: $57.1 million – Ebaugh v. Ethicon/JJ (TVT-Secur) – PA
  31. 3/18: $35 million – Kaiser v. Ethicon/JJ (Prolift) – IN
  32. 4/18: $68 million – McGinnis v. Bard – NJ
  33. 1/19: $41 million – Emmett v. Ethicon/JJ – PA
  34. 4/19: $120 million – McFarland v. Ethicon/JJ – PA
  35. 5/19: $80+ million – Mesigian v. Ethicon/JJ – PA
  36. 6/19: $500,000 – Dunfee v. Ethicon/JJ (Prolift) – PA
  37. 3/22: 0 – McBroom v. Ethicon/JJ (Prolift, TVT-Secur) – AZ
  38. 3/22: 0 – Shears v. Ethicon/JJ (TVT) – WV
  39. 4/22: $2.5 million – Redding v. Coloplast (Novasilk) – FL
  40. 7/22: 0 – Burris v. Ethicon/JJ (Prolift, TVT-Secur) – OH
  41. 10/22: 0 – Jarrett v. Ethicon/JJ (TVT-O) – AR
  42. 10/22: 0 – Richards v. Ethicon/JJ (TVT-O) – TX
  43. 12/22: 0 – Snowden v. Ethicon/JJ (Abbrevo) – TX

Multi District Litigation

The TVM multi district litigation (MDL) courts have been dismantled as of 2018, but we are still accepting cases, which may be filed in individual courts across the nation.  These MDL courts are closed to new cases:

MDL No. 2327 | In Re Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2325 | In Re American Medical Systems, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation –

MDL No. 2187 | In Re C. R. Bard, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2326 | In Re Boston Scientific Corp. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2440 | In Re Cook Medical, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2387 | In Re Coloplast Corp. Pelvic Support Systems Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2511 | In Re Neomedic Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

Contact Us Now

Call us at 1-800-814-4540 or email carolyn@carolynstclair.com if you have had injuries from your pelvic mesh or bladder sling surgery. Our consultations are free and confidential. There are time limits in each state and hospitals destroy medical records after a certain time frame, so contact us now to preserve your rights.

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