Wagstaff & Cartmell is representing victims who have suffered serious complications after being implanted with mesh slings for urinary incontinence.  These slings include the Virtue©  sling made by Coloplast, and the AdVance©  sling made by Boston Scientific.

The male mesh sling procedure involves placement of a synthetic sling in the groin area to compress the urethra under it.  It is implanted completely in your body and is designed to reposition and support the urethra to restore normal bladder control.  The male mesh sling procedure was developed to help men with urinary incontinence due to sphincter weakness or insufficiency in the setting of prior pelvic surgery, including post-TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) and radical prostatectomy.

While there are other, more widely accepted treatments for male incontinence such as the artificial urinary sphincter, the companies which manufacture these male mesh slings market the procedure as having the advantage of requiring only a small incision in the groin and having a fairly short recovery time.   Male mesh sling surgeries have eliminated or reduced urinary incontinence in thousands of patients, but unfortunately a significant number of patients have not have positive results.  Male mesh slings can cause a number of side effects, some of which are severe.

The FDA has received hundreds of complaints and severe adverse event reports involving a number of faulty male mesh slings.

The models of Male mesh slings commonly included in FDA complaints include:

• AMS Advance© Male sling System- American Medical Systems and Boston Scientific
• Virtue© Sling- Coloplast

Unlike prescription drugs, which must be proven safe and effective before being sold, most medical devices face no such requirements.

Male Mesh Sling Side Effects

Any medical procedure may result in side effects, including male mesh slings.  However, some side effects are more severe and warrant additional medical treatment:

Patients who experience a problem with a male mesh sling are likely to experience any one of the following health issues:

• Severe Pelvic Pain
• Severe Scrotal Pain
• Persistent perineal pain
• Erosion of the mesh into the urethra
• Erosion of the mesh into surrounding tissue or organs
• Infection
• Fistula formation and inflammation
• Device migration
• Scar tissue

Any one of these problems can require medical treatment, which may include additional surgery to remove of all or part of the mesh sling.

These mesh slings are made from a plastic material called polypropylene.  Over time, erosion or contraction of the mesh- described as being made of a material similar to that of Rubbermaid© storage containers – has led to complications, with symptoms including severe scrotal and pelvic pain, painful sexual intercourse and urinary problems.

Other patients may have an implant which exhibits a chronic foreign body reaction and a chronic inflammatory response, potentially leading to chronic pain and infections, which may require medical treatment.

A patient or family member who files a medical injury lawsuit may receive compensation for medical costs, lost wages and other damages, and may be eligible for punitive compensation as well.  Each case must be individually evaluated.  If you have been implanted with a male mesh sling and have had side effects from the device, you may contact us for a free case evaluation.

If you have suffered serious complications after being implanted with a Virtue© or an AdVance©  sling, you can contact us for a fee consultation.   Call us at 816-701-1176 or fill out the online form.