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Mesh Complication Patient Story #37

Sacral Colpopexy Mesh Pain – Gynemesh Graft Removal

Initial Mesh Surgery: Original Surgery was a laparoscopic sacral colpopexy, hysterectomy, paravaginal repair and posterior repair

Post Mesh Surgery Symptoms:Pelvic Pain and Vaginal Pain x 11 months

Number of Doctors Seen: 3 - her original gynecological surgeon, a urologist, and a second gynecological surgeon

Treatment to Repair Mesh Complications:  Laparoscopic removal of sacral colpopexy mesh

This patient is an actual patient of Dr. Miklos & Moore in that they performed the original surgery with another surgeon who removed this woman’s uterus.  The patient originally came in for uterine vaginal prolapse.  After an informed consent she elected to proceed with a laparoscopic hysterectomy (by her primary gynecologist) and then Dr. Miklos & Moore performed the reconstructive surgery including:  sacral colpopexy, paravaginal repair and posterior repair. 

After the surgery she did well with recovery but over time she began to experience pain deep in the pelvis and at the top of the vagina.  Examination confirmed that with pushing gently on the apex of the vagina (point of mesh attachment) caused pain.  Thus Dr. Miklos could deduce that it was the mesh probably causing the pain.  The patient elected to have the mesh removed. 

Dr. Miklos comment:  “Very few surgeons in the world will remove the sacral colpopexy mesh because of the great difficulty associated with the procedure, many surgeons will just tell the patient that nothing can be done” Here at Atlanta Urogynecology Associates we can offer you the option of mesh removal and not through a large incision but through miniature incisions i.e. laparoscopically.    

The patient was taken to the operating room and laparoscopy was performed.  The mesh was identified.

An incision was made through the covering skin (i.e. the peritoneum) (Photo 3 & 4) and the mesh was slowly dissected away from the patients’ tissue until we found our original sutures that attached the mesh to the sacrum (photo 5).

   Each original suture was removed---- 2 from the sacrum (photo 6) and 12 from the vagina (photo 7 & 8 & 9)  

After all of the sutures have been removed the scarred and shrunken mesh can be removed from the body  (photo 10)

Photo 11 – Mesh once removed

Dr. Miklos comment:  “Mesh removal requires experience and expertise, I advise all patients to consider your surgeons experience when considering mesh removal especially sacral colpopexy mesh.”  Choose your surgeon wisely when choosing mesh removal usually experience and expertise will minimize your chance of a major complication.

Click here to read her testimonial from just a few weeks after her surgery

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