What is polypropylene?
Polypropylene is a synthetic man-made plastic that is described as a structural, fibrous or net-like type material. Amongst other uses, polypropylene is used by various medical device manufacturers to create pelvic mesh devices – a medical device that is permanently implanted to treat pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence. Polypropylene’s lack of biocompatibility often renders it unsuitable to be permanently implanted.
Inflammatory response
Once a mesh made of polypropylene is implanted into the body, the body’s immune system recognizes the mesh as a foreign object which triggers an inflammatory response. This inflammatory response can result in pain, and discomfort and can lead to other complications. As the mesh is a foreign object in the body, it may also be a host for the colonization of bacteria, leading to infections that cause pain and fever.
Degradation and oxidation
Polypropylene is not fully inert in the biological environment of the human body, and degrades over time through a process called oxidation. Once the polypropylene comes into contact with bodily fluids, varying PH levels, and muscle tissue, it hardens, brittles, and starts to break down. The degradation of the polypropylene mesh results in a chronic inflammatory response leading to infections, pelvic pain or swelling, and the hard edges of the cracked mesh may cut into surrounding tissue.
Poor Integration with Tissue
A polypropylene mesh is much stiffer than the vaginal tissue it is implanted in, which may result in poor integration with the surrounding tissue and muscles. For a mesh to integrate with the surrounding tissue it needs to be biocompatible and have similar biomechanical properties as the tissue. Polypropylene, being a synthetic plastic, does not have these properties.
Scar Tissue Formation
A mesh made of polypropylene can lead to excessive scar tissue formation around the implantation area. Excessive scar tissue results in complications such as adhesions where the tissue sticks to other structures in the body which can cause severe pain.
Polypropylene is, as a result, not a suitable material for a mesh implant in the human body due to the long-term adverse effects it causes. The chronic pain, discomfort, infections, and other complications that women face from their mesh implants are recurring and difficult to manage and treat over time. The adverse effects of a polypropylene mesh can be harmful to one’s overall health and quality of life.
Individuals who believe they may have suffered harm as a result of being implanted with pelvic mesh, or as a result of a loved one being injured by defective pelvic mesh, are encouraged to contact RH Lawyers by visiting www.meshclassaction.co.za or via the methods listed below:
Emailing: info@rhlawyers.co.za;
Calling 087 188 2698; or
Sending a please call me or WhatsApp to 062 973 9224
