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Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling Lawsuits

Background on ObTape Sling Ligitation

Our lawyers are now reviewing ObTape Vaginal Sling Lawsuits. The genesis of the Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling lawsuits began when the ObTape sling was approved for the U.S. market in 2003.  The Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling was intended to help fight stress urinary incontinence, an affliction that 13 million women are suffering from in this country (a higher number than almost anyone would expect).  The Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling is an implanted device that is designed to replace eroded or weakened muscles in the urethra. 

Unfortunately while the ObTape certainly wored for some patients, the Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling was removed from the market in 2006 because its design made it far more susceptible to complications than other treatment modalities used to treat urinary incontinence.  These complications from the Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling often required patients to undergo surgery and, regrettably, often serious and permanent injuries.

In October, 2006, a Journal of Urology article underscored the frequency and the scope of injuries caused by the Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling. The study looked at 67 women who had been implanted with the Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling.  More than 13% developed vaginal extrusions. Others had chronic vaginal discharge, and one patient developed an abscess that led to complications. 

The most important part of the Journal of Urology study was the control group which had a 56 patient cohort who used another type of vaginal sling. None of the patients in the control group experienced the complications seen with the Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling. Other studies have reached similar conclusions with various studies reporting vaginal erosion after Obtape insertion ranges from 1.9% to 20%. Most of these Obtape studies reported incident rates closer to the the higher range.

The problem with the Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling was that it was apparnently defectively designed.  Vaginal slings have historically been made with a mesh design which allows the sling to breathe and get nutrients to the body’s tissue.   This Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling tried a new innovative design. Trying something new is commendable, but you cannot put a product on the market without adequate testing. The ObTape Vaginal Sling pushed into and through the vaginal wall causing tearing, cutting, and sometimes permanent erosion of the vaginal tissues.   When ObTape causes erosion of the vagina, complete excision of the exposed mesh is often recommended in order to avoid severe soft tissue infections that may occur for years after surgery.

Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling lawyers will seek to consolidate for discovery purposes the 22 filed Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling lawsuits in an MDL (basically a class action for discovery purposes).  Oral arguments will be held on November 20, 2008 at the Hollings Judicial Center II in Charleston, South Carolina.

 Approximately 35,000 women used the Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling between 2003 and 2006.  This means that 7,000 women have potential OBTape Vaginal Sling lawsuits.  Why only 22 lawsuits?  Of course, many women have a hard time coming forward because this is such a private issue.  There are 13 million women with this problem, yet many – up to 50% in some studies – do not receive any treatment for this condition.    But I also think many women do not realize that there are ObTape lawsuits pending around the country and there is a great possibility these women will receive the compensation they deserve for the Mentor ObTape Sling injuries.

If you or someone you love has suffered injuries and would like to learn more about the  Mentor ObTape Sling lawsuits that are pending around the country, call Laura Zois at 800-553-8082 or click here for a free confidential case evaluation by a Mentor ObTape Sling lawyer. 

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