Bladder Sling Injury Lawyer

If you or someone you love has experienced chronic pain, mesh erosion, voiding dysfunction, or other serious complications following a bladder sling surgery, you could be entitled to financial compensation. The bladder sling injury lawyers at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. can help. Our Chicago personal injury law firm has recovered more than $3.5 billion for injured clients like you, and we are prepared to fight for the recovery you deserve. Our team provides comprehensive legal representation and will guide you through the entire process of your bladder sling injury claim, from initial investigation to resolution.

What Is a Bladder Sling Injury?

Bladder slings are medical devices that are designed to support weakened pelvic organs and manage urinary incontinence. Unfortunately, they have been linked to a range of serious complications, prompting the FDA to issue multiple warnings and implement stricter regulations.

A bladder sling injury is any injury a patient suffers as a result of a bladder mesh or sling procedure, whether it is due to a surgical error, a defective device, inadequate screening, or failure to warn. These injuries can range from chronic pelvic pain and recurring infections to more serious complications like mesh erosion, nerve damage, and permanent voiding dysfunction.

Early versions of these slings had particularly high complication rates. Many patients have found that transvaginal mesh implants eroded after a brief period and caused serious injuries. And while newer designs have improved safety, bladder sling complications continue to affect a significant number of patients.

Over the past two decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken significant steps to address the risks associated with bladder sling devices and transvaginal mesh products used to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

In 2019, the FDA banned transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse repair entirely, though slings for stress urinary incontinence remain on the market. Compounding the problem is the fact that synthetic slings are permanent implants, and removing them is a difficult undertaking that can cause harm.

Types of Bladder Sling Complications in Chicago

Bladder sling procedures are widely performed and often successful, but when things go wrong, the consequences for patients can be serious and life-altering.

The following bladder sling complications are among the most commonly reported:

Extrusion – Extrusion occurs when a portion of the synthetic sling works its way through the vaginal wall and becomes exposed. This can lead to bleeding, unusual discharge, chronic discomfort, or pain during intercourse.
Erosion – Though less common than extrusion, erosion is a particularly serious complication in which the sling material migrates into the bladder or urethra. This can go undetected for some time. In some cases, what appears to be “erosion” is an overlooked surgical perforation.
Urinary Dysfunction – Some patients become unable to fully empty their bladders after sling placement, an issue that can range from mildly inconvenient to debilitating. The obstruction can cause chronic urinary retention, painful voiding, or persistent feelings of urgency.
Soft Tissue Damage – Some surgical approaches for sling placement can result in trauma to surrounding nerves and muscles. Patients with this kind of trauma may experience persistent pain, weakness, or numbness in the pelvic region or upper legs long after the procedure.
Perforation – During trocar passage, a key step in placing a bladder sling, surgeons may inadvertently puncture the bladder or urethra. While doctors catch and address many perforations during surgery, missed perforations can lead to serious downstream complications involving other organs and surrounding tissue.
Incontinence – In some cases, the very problem the sling was meant to solve persists or worsens after surgery. This outcome is more likely if doctors operate on patients who have undergone prior incontinence surgeries without adequately accounting for the risk of bladder sling failure.
Infection – Infection is among the most common post-procedural complications and can affect both the surgical site and the urinary tract. In more serious cases, the mesh itself can become infected, potentially necessitating partial or complete removal.

Many patients who experience these serious injuries and common complications may require additional surgeries to address their injuries.

How Bladder Sling Injuries Are Diagnosed

Mesh sling injury symptoms can develop gradually, so doctors sometimes mistake them for unrelated conditions. Many patients go months or even years before receiving an accurate diagnosis.

A physician evaluating a potential sling complication will typically begin with a detailed review of the patient’s surgical history and a physical examination. They may also use urodynamic testing to assess bladder function and identify obstruction or voiding dysfunction. Cystoscopy procedures can also be useful for detecting mesh erosion or missed perforations. Finally, imaging studies such as MRI or ultrasound may be necessary to evaluate the position and condition of the sling.

Timely diagnosis of bladder sling injuries is critical, both for patient health and for preserving the evidence that may support a legal claim. Additionally, maintaining thorough medical records is crucial for supporting your case, as detailed documentation of your medical history and treatment can serve as key evidence.

It is helpful to seek counsel from an experienced pelvic mesh lawyer in cases involving serious complications from transvaginal mesh products. Experienced product liability attorneys can assist victims of defective medical devices in seeking compensation for their injuries.

Common Errors During Bladder Sling Procedures

Injuries that occur during bladder sling procedures do not always stem from unavoidable surgical risks. In many cases, they result from specific errors that healthcare professionals make before, during, or after surgery, such as:

Failing to perform thorough preoperative evaluations of a patient’s medical history
Neglecting to adequately disclose procedural risks before obtaining patient consent
Placing the sling too tightly or in the wrong location
Overlooking a bladder or urethral perforation during surgery
Failing to identify and address intraoperative bleeding promptly
Using a surgical approach that is not appropriate for a patient’s anatomy or condition
Failing to diagnose or treat postoperative complications in a timely manner
Neglecting to provide adequate postoperative monitoring or follow-up care
Failing to refer a patient to a specialist if complications arise or persist
Performing the procedure without sufficient training or experience

These types of errors may form the basis for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Reach out to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to learn more today.

Illinois Statute of Limitations for Bladder Sling Claims

Illinois’ statute of limitations generally gives you two years to file medical malpractice claims, including bladder sling lawsuits involving surgical errors. This two-year filing window begins on the date when you knew or reasonably should have known about the injury and its connection to the care you received.

Illinois law also imposes a four-year statute of repose on malpractice claims. This separate but related law prevents you from bringing a malpractice claim more than four years after the date of the negligent act or omission, regardless of when you discovered the injury. This distinction is particularly important in bladder sling cases, where complications may not become apparent until well after the original surgery.

For product liability claims, such as those against sling manufacturers, the filing deadline is two years from the pelvic mesh injury date. There is also a 12-year statute of repose for these cases.

These deadlines are complex, and you could lose your right to sue if you miss one. As such, it is best to consult a qualified attorney as soon as possible if you suspect you have a case.

Speak With a Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer About Your Bladder Sling Case

If you believe you or a loved one has suffered a preventable injury from a bladder sling procedure, do not wait to seek help. You have limited time to file a claim in Illinois, and swift action can make all the difference in your recovery. Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today for a free initial consultation. We are here to answer your questions and handle every aspect of your claim while you focus on healing.