Surgical Mesh
For updated information about Surgical Mesh for Pelvic Organ Prolapse,
see: Urogynecologic Surgical Mesh Implants, released July 13, 2011.
• Information on Surgical Mesh for Hernia Repairs
• Information on Surgical Mesh for Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence
Information on Surgical Mesh for Hernia Repairs
FDA wants to inform you about complications that may occur with the surgical mesh that is sometimes used to repair hernias, and to provide you with questions you may want to ask your surgeon before having this procedure. This is part of our commitment to keep the public informed about the medical products we regulate.
Hundreds of thousands of hernia repair operations are performed each year both with and without surgical mesh, and patients generally recover quickly and do well after surgery.
However, FDA has received reports of complications associated with the mesh. The complications include adverse reactions to the mesh, adhesions (when the loops of the intestines adhere to each other or the mesh), and injuries to nearby organs, nerves or blood vessels . Other complications of hernia repair can occur with or without the mesh, including infection, chronic pain and hernia recurrence.
Most of the complications reported to us so far have been associated with mesh products that have been recalled and are no longer on the market. For further information on the recalled products, please visit the FDA Medical Device Recall website.
We are continuing to analyze and evaluate incoming reports of adverse events, and are speaking with patients, surgeons and researchers. We will inform the public as new information becomes available.
Talking to your doctor
Before having a hernia operation, be sure to let the surgeon know if you’ve had a past reaction to materials used in surgical mesh or sutures, such as polypropylene.
There are also certain questions you should consider asking your surgeon:
• What are the pros and cons of using surgical mesh in my particular case?
• If surgical mesh will be used, is there special patient information that comes with the product, and can I have a copy?
• If surgical mesh will be used, what’s been your experience with this particular product, and with treating potential mesh complications?
• What can I expect to feel after surgery and for how long?
Reporting complications to the FDA
In order to help FDA learn more about possible problems with surgical mesh, it’s important that both physicians and patients report complications that may be associated with this product.
You can report any problems to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by FAX.
• Online : MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form (3500)
• Regular Mail : use postage-paid FDA form 3500 available at: MedWatch Forms Mail to MedWatch 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787
• FAX: 1-800-FDA-0178
Information on Surgical Mesh for Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence FDA wants to inform you about the complications that can occur when surgical mesh is used to treat Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), and provide you with questions to ask your surgeon before having these procedures. This is part of our commitment to keep healthcare professionals and the public informed about the medical products we regulate.
FDA has received reports of complications associated with the placement of mesh through an incision made in the wall of the vagina. Although rare, these complications can have serious consequences. The reports have not been linked to a single brand or model of mesh.
The most frequent complications included erosion through the vagina, infection, pain, urinary problems and recurrence of the prolapse and/or incontinence.
In some cases, erosion of the mesh and scarring of the vagina led to discomfort and pain,
including pain during sexual intercourse. Some patients needed additional surgery to remove the mesh that had eroded into the vagina. Other complications included injuries to nearby organs such as the bowel and bladder, or blood vessels .
Background
A pelvic organ prolapse (POP) occurs when a pelvic organ, such as your bladder, drops (“prolapses”) from its normal position and pushes against the walls of your vagina. This can happen if the muscles that hold your pelvic organs in place become weak or stretched from childbirth or surgery. More than one pelvic organ can drop at the same time. Organs that can be involved in a pelvic organ prolapse include the bladder, the uterus, the bowel and the rectum.
Pelvic organ prolapse can cause pain or problems with bowel and bladder functions or interfere with sexual activity.
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a type of incontinence caused by leakage of urine during moments of physical stress.
Talking to your doctor
Before having an operation for POP or SUI, be sure to let your surgeon know if you’ve had a past reaction to mesh materials such as polypropylene.
Questions you should ask the surgeon before you agree to surgery in which mesh will be
used:
• What are the pros and cons of using surgical mesh in my particular case? Can my repair be successfully performed without using mesh?
• If a mesh is to be used, what’s been your experience with implanting this particular product? What experience have your other patients had with this product?
• What’s been your experience in dealing with the complications that might occur?
• What can I expect to feel after surgery and for how long?
• Are there any specific side effects I should let you know about after the surgery?
• What if the mesh doesn’t correct my problem?
• If I have a complication related to the mesh, can the mesh be removed and what could the consequences be?
• If a mesh is to be used, is there patient information that comes with the product, and can I have a copy?
Reporting complications to the FDA
In order to help FDA learn more about possible problems with surgical mesh, it is important that both physicians and patients report complications that may be associated with this product.
You can report any problems to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by mail or FAX.
• Online : MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form (3500)
• Mail : use postage-paid FDA form 3500 available at: MedWatch Forms Mail to MedWatch 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787
• FAX: 1-800-FDA-0178
Related Links
• FDA Public Health Notification: Serious Complications Associated with Transvaginal Placement of Surgical Mesh in Repair of Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence
FDA: Surgical placement of mesh to repair pelvic organ prolapse poses risks
Agency says other options may expose women to less risk than transvaginal procedure The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued an updated safety communication warning health care providers and patients that surgical placement of mesh through the vagina to repair pelvic organ prolapse may expose patients to greater risk than other surgical options.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) occurs when the internal structures that support the pelvic organs such as the bladder, uterus and bowel, become so weak or stretched that the organs drop from their normal position and bulge or prolapse into the vagina. While not a life-threatening condition, women with POP often experience pelvic discomfort, disruption of their sexual, urinary, and defecatory functions, and an overall reduction in their quality of life.
”There are clear risks associated with the transvaginal placement of mesh to treat POP,” said William Maisel, M.D., M.P.H., deputy director and chief scientist of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “The FDA is asking surgeons to carefully consider all other treatment options and to make sure that their patients are fully informed of potential complications from surgical mesh. Mesh is a permanent implant -- complete removal may not be possible and may not result in complete resolution of complications.”
William Maisel (MD, MPH, FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health In 2010, there were at least 100,000 POP repairs that used surgical mesh. About 75,000 of these were transvaginal procedures.
The FDA issued a safety communication in 2008 due to increasing concerns about adverse events associated with the transvaginal placement of mesh. Since then, the number of adverse events has continued to climb. From 2008 to 2010, the FDA received 1503 adverse event reports associated with mesh used for POP repair, five times as many as the agency received from 2005 to 2007. The reports don’t always differentiate between transvaginal and abdominal procedures.
The most frequently reported complications from surgical mesh used to repair POP include mesh becoming exposed or protruding out of the vaginal tissue (erosion), pain, infection,
bleeding, pain during sexual intercourse, organ perforation from surgical tools used in the mesh placement procedure, and urinary problems. Some reports cited the need for additional surgeries or hospitalization to treat complications or to remove the mesh.
The FDA also conducted a review of scientific literature published between 1996 and 2010 comparing mesh surgeries to non-mesh surgeries. The agency review suggests that many patients who undergo transvaginal POP repair with mesh are exposed to additional risks, compared to patients who undergo POP repair with stitches alone. While mesh often corrected anatomy, there was no evidence that mesh provided any greater clinical benefit than non-mesh surgeries.
FDA recommends that health care providers:
• Recognize that in most cases, POP can be treated successfully without mesh;
• Know that surgical mesh is a permanent implant that can make any future surgical repairs more challenging and can put the patient at risk for additional complications and surgeries;
• Consider that mesh placed abdominally for POP repair may result in lower rates of mesh complications compared to transvaginal POP surgery with mesh; and
• Be sure that patients are aware of the risks and benefits of transvaginal POP repair with mesh, and inform patients if mesh is being used.
The FDA recommends that patients:
• Ask the surgeon before surgery about all POP treatment options, including those that do not involve mesh, and understand why the surgeon may be recommending treatment of POP with mesh;
• Continue with routine check-ups and follow-up care after surgery. Notify the surgeon if complications develop (persistent vaginal bleeding or discharge, pelvic or groin pain during sex); and
• Those who have had POP surgery but don’t know if the surgeon used mesh should find out if mesh was used during their next scheduled visit with their health care provider.
The FDA also announced that an outside panel of experts in obstetrics and gynecology will meet on Sept. 8-9, 2011, to discuss the safety and effectiveness of surgical mesh used to treat POP and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), a leakage of urine during physical activity. The panel will discuss the risk of transvaginal POP repair, clinical studies that may be necessary to address risks and benefits of this type of surgery, and the FDA’s interim recommendations for health care professionals and patients.
“Input from the clinicians, manufacturers and other experts will help the FDA better understand the safety and effectiveness of surgical mesh for POP and SUI repair, including any changes that would improve our oversight,” Maisel said.
Today’s safety communication is limited to the transvaginal placement of mesh to repair POP. It does not address the safety and effectiveness of mesh used to treat SUI or mesh implanted abdominally.
For more information:
FDA Safety Communication: UPDATE on Serious Complications Associated with Transvaginal Placement of Surgical Mesh for Pelvic Organ Prolapse
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
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