Monday, July 15, 2013

What Is A Transvaginal Mesh Implant And What Is Its Use

By Carmella Watts


For anyone wishing to understand what is a transvaginal mesh implant, the simple answer is that it's a device that is mostly used for gynecological purposes these days. In the past, it had been used for repairing hernias, but has lately found use as a relief from pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

The reason for the name is because it usually is the shape of a mesh, manufactured from a fabric durable enough to support a woman's bowel, bladder, urethra and upper vaginal area. It is placed by surgeons around the area of the pelvis.

The older a woman gets, the more susceptible she is to having problems with her organs slipping. This can be especially true after the menopause.In older people, the muscle tissue around the vaginal area can become damaged or grow weak, this can be due to old age, several childbirths, or hysterectomies. These can cause the organs to slip and can protrude through the vagina, thereby accelerating the need for an implant.

The actual mesh is made from more than one material and is liable to contain animal tissues, synthetics, human tissues, polyester and polypropylene or a mix of any combination of these things. Generally speaking, the most popular is made from polypropylene, which a plastic polymer that's used in many different packages, as well as in textiles, stationery and containers.

One of the confusing things about them is that they come in a variety of different categories. They have to be separated by the types of medical procedure that is involved in inserting each one into a woman's body, as well as separated by the types of materials they are made from. Overseeing the safety of the items, and the categories they come in, is the Food and Drug Administration.

One of the implants is called a mini-sling. What differentiates this from the others is not the type of product but the way it is inserted into the body. The surgeon need only make one incision in the vagina before placing a metal inserted, which allows them to align the mini-sling around the middle of the urethra. This need for only one surgical cut means the recover time isn't as as long as other procedures, and the chances of cutting a major organ are reduced.

A tension-free sling requires the operating surgeon to administer several cuts to the body. Two are made to he patient's abdomen and another to her vagina. Though tension-free slings are still in use, surgeons do not appear to be using them as often as transobturator tape, a sling that apparently allows for more accurate insertions into the body.

What is a transvaginal mesh implant is one question that older women could be asking themselves if they have been advised to that they need one. Their use is not without some controversy, especially as some patients are believed to have reported side effects like pain and bleeding. This brings home the fact that, as with any major surgical procedure, it cannot be guaranteed to be 100% safe.




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