Exposure addressed with mesh surgery by one of the most experienced removal physicians in Park City

Problems such as stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and even hernia, have been treated with mesh. In the ten-plus years this surgical procedure has been performed, thousands of women have achieved the results they have sought with this treatment. At the same time, surgical treatment with transvaginal mesh has not been without side effects. As much as ten percent of women who have received mesh surgery have experienced some type of adverse result and have needed subsequent removal or revision of the mesh.

The most common complication from transvaginal mesh surgery identified by physicians has been pain, and mesh erosion or exposure. Park City urogynecologist Dr. Sanjay Gandhi consults with women in one of three conveniently located offices to design the best plan for correction of complications.

What is exposure?

The word “exposure” is defined as the gradual wearing away of a surface or substance. This wearing away is the result of friction with some other substance. Where transvaginal mesh is concerned, the mesh implant causes the exposure of soft tissues in the vaginal wall. The way that mesh moves through the soft tissues could be likened to sandpaper wearing down wood.

What happens if exposure occurs?

The clear problem of exposure in transvaginal mesh is the damage that occurs to vaginal tissues. This is not where the complications of exposure end, though, because the process can progress until the entire vaginal wall has eroded and reaches surrounding organs or the vaginal canal. Some of the effects of exposure include:

• Chronic pain
• Painful intercourse, depending on the extent of extrusion of the mesh, a woman’s sexual partner may also experience discomfort.
• Vaginal bleeding or internal bleeding
• Recurrence of stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse

If mesh eroded into organs such as the bladder or bowel, symptoms may include:

• Perforation of organs such as the bowel or bladder
• A fistula, or tunnel, may develop, allowing stool to drain from the rectum into the vagina
• Chronic infection as a result of perforation or fistula

Experiencing complications from surgery for stress urinary incontinence can be extremely distressing. Many women who have developed complications feel frustrated, angry, and even hopeless. Dr. Sanjay Gandhi of Partners in Pelvic Health has many years of experience in the treatment of urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapsed, and the correction of prior treatments.

Learn how you may improve your quality of life by addressing complications of transvaginal mesh. Call today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Gandhi in one of our offices in the Chicago suburbs.