Vaginal (TVT) Mesh Claims

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Why was vaginal mesh surgery used?

A vaginal, TVT, or pelvic mesh is used to treat urogynaecological conditions for stress incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Stress incontinence is a very common condition for women after childbirth and at menopause, with around 20% of women suffering from this condition. Pelvic organ prolapse affects up to half of women who have had children and occurs when a pelvic organ (including the bladder, rectum or uterus) moves out of place. Commonly, this happens when the pelvic muscles are weakened or damaged.

Pelvic organ prolapse can be very life-limiting, making it difficult to use the toilet and causing painful symptoms in the vagina and loss of sensation—the mesh aimed to support weakened organs and repair damaged tissue.

Mesh was used in the UK from the mid-1990s. Data was produced to show that between April 2008 and March 2017, 100,516 patients had a tape insertion procedure for stress incontinence, and 27,016 patients underwent a mesh procedure for pelvic organ prolapse. In the same period, 71,350 had a non-mesh procedure for pelvic organ prolapse.

The initial trials indicated low rates of complication and high success rates. Still, the controversy started to build when there was a body of counter-evidence that mesh wasn’t as efficient as indicated and that there was a higher complication rate, with 1 in 15 women suffering complications warranting removal of the mesh by surgery.

Problems with TVT mesh surgery

There were several cases where patients suffered serious harm from surgery, including mesh erosion/extrusion, such as vaginal scarring, fistula formation, painful sex, bladder infection, bladder perforation, bowel and nerve trauma and chronic pain, usually in the pelvis, back and legs. It was thought to be one of the most shocking NHS scandals of its time, with one of the main complaints being a failure to inform patients of the risk. This included private patients as well as NHS patients.

Following calls from patients and senior professors against using mesh, The Independent and Medical Devices Safety Review recommended that doctors pause using mesh, which was implemented by the government in July 2018, pending a review. The review led by Baroness Julia Cumberlege and the IMMDS (Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety) report entitled First Do No Harm was published in July 2020, and the government finally responded in July 2021.

The review attracted immediate attention, and the NICE Guidelines for Urinary Incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in Women: management was finally published on 2 April 2019, which is relied upon by medical professionals to date.

While mesh is not banned, it is recommended to be used as a last resort and under very strict supervision for exceptional cases.

Many patients continue to suffer debilitating conditions relating to mesh procedures. More recent statistics support that the rate of complications is as high as 1 in 6 patients.

Pelvic mesh risks are still being ignored

Notwithstanding the reports, reviews, and strict recommendations on how best to treat patients suffering from organ prolapse and stress incontinence, there are worrying reports projecting that the UK plans to become Europe’s key market for pelvic mesh within eight years. New research is being undertaken to support mesh products which are reported to fail to properly account for the risks and appear to exaggerate the benefits.

There are some excellent dedicated mesh online support groups available, with the most well-known website being https://slingthemesh.co.uk

Under English law, medical practitioners must act according to a reasonable body of medical opinion. They are liable under negligence law if they fall below this standard and cause patient loss or injury. Osbornes Law has represented patients in medical negligence actions against private doctors and NHS Trusts in relation to vaginal mesh products.

How to claim TVT mesh compensation

If you have undergone vaginal mesh treatment and feel that you may have suffered injury as a result, then please do not hesitate to contact partner and specialist medical negligence lawyer Stephanie Prior on stephanie.prior@osborneslaw.com or Jodi Newton, Senior Associate Solicitor, on jodi.newton@osborneslaw.com