VAGINAL SLING and Mesh REMOVAL: Restoring Hope
Dr. Margolis ranks as one of the most experienced leaders nationally in synthetic mesh and sling removal, difficult and technically-challenging procedures even for accomplished surgeons. Dr. Margolis takes great pride in having helped hundreds of women suffering from synthetic mesh complications to reduce or eliminate pelvic pain and resume their daily activities.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Synthetic vaginal mesh was introduced in the United Sates in 1998 for use in the correction of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Synthetic mesh was marketed at the time as a simple and effective corrective tool to patients and a straightforward, quick surgical procedure to ob/gyns, urologists, and urogynecologists. The subsequent decades have been marred by controversy and mounting surgical complications. Thousands of women have suffered long-term physical and emotional damage from vaginal mesh including:
infection
mesh erosion
debilitating pelvic pain
painful intercourse (dyspareunia) and loss of intimacy
Dr. Margolis maintained from the beginning that synthetic mesh systems used for transvaginal surgery were dangerous, defective and inappropriate for patient use. Synthetic vaginal mesh and slings have become the subject of litigation involving over 100,000 plaintiffs in the US alone. Dr. Margolis has been a forceful voice speaking out about the serious adverse events associated with use of synthetic mesh since the late 1990s.
In addition to the significant complications associated with vaginally placed polypropylene mesh for prolapse, mesh has also been used abdominally/laparoscopically/robotically for pelvic organ prolapse with similar and in some cases more catastrophic complications. Published literature and Dr. Margolis’ experience has shown that polypropylene mesh is unsuitable for any pelvic reconstructive surgery.