More than 30,000 Transvaginal mesh (TVM) lawsuits have been filed in the United States District Court, Southern District of West Virginia in Multi-District Litigation (MDL).  An MDL consolidates all litigation, so that it can be efficiently litigated at the same time by all the parties in front of one Judge.  For example, I filed numerous TVM cases in Arizona, which were transferred to the MDL in West Virginia.  The Defendants in these cases are transvaginal mesh manufacturers C.R. Bard, Ethicon, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson), American Medical Systems, Inc., Coloplast Corporation, Cook Medical Inc. and Boston Scientific Corporation, and an MDL has been formed for cases against each manufacturer. Additionally, several thousand TVM cases are pending in state courts around the country.

During the litigation process, it has been discovered that an increasing amount of complications and severe injuries were associated with Trans-Obturator Tape (TOT) mesh slings compared to the more traditional retropubically placed slings.  Before the development of TOT slings, mesh slings to repair stress urinary incontinence were implanted retropubically by placing the mesh through a vaginal incision and pulling the mesh behind the pubic bone to two stab incisions made in the lower abdomen.  In order to minimize the potential for bladder and bowel injuries associated with the retropubic approach, the transobturator approach was developed.

The transobturator approach involves the passage of mesh through the obturator foramen on the sides of the groin.  The mesh is pulled to two stab incisions on each side of the patient’s groin.  Although it was developed to minimize injuries during implantation, the transobturator approach increases risks for vascular and nerve injury by passing the mesh and tools used to implant the mesh through the nerve-rich obturator foramen.  In addition to the increased risk of injury during placement, there are increased risks of nerve injury and irritation after placement with TOT slings, as compared to slings implanted through retropubic approach.

If you are someone close to you is suffering from a defective TVM that requires surgical removal, or has already been surgically removed, please contact Steve Leshner in Phoenix, Arizona for a free consultation.