A full retrospective audit of women who have undergone vaginal mesh surgery has been launched by the government to establish how many have experienced complications following the procedure.
In the past decade, more than 100,000 women have had vaginal mesh surgery to treat urinary incontinence, which is common after childbirth, according to NHS figures. But there is disagreement about the scale of problems linked to the devices, with campaigners saying women have been exposed to unacceptable risks.
Most mesh devices were launched without clinical trials, meaning the complication rates were never established prospectively.
Official guidance has suggested the figure is 3-5%, but recent research has suggested the true complication rate could be between 10-15% and a Guardian investigation found that up to 1 in 15 women subsequently require partial or full removal of their implant.
The audit, due to be completed by April, involves linking data on patients’ conditions and the type of surgery to subsequent hospital treatment and consultations in the NHS.
The investigation comes after a series of meetings with an all-party parliamentary group on surgical mesh implants set up by the Labour MP Owen Smith, which looked into the safety of mesh devices.
“Over the last two years I’ve been urging ministers to conduct an investigation to fully determine problems related to mesh surgery,” said Smith. “I’m delighted that the government has listened to our concerns and has now agreed to undertake this audit to get a better understanding of complications related to mesh surgery.”
Kath Sansom, founder of the campaign group, Sling the Mesh, said: “After two decades of mesh use with poor audit, the government is finally hearing the voices of women whose lives have changed beyond repair.
Sansom added that a survey of members of the campaign group showed that many had suffered chronic pain, had lost their partners, left their jobs and been affected by anxiety and depression due to complications from surgery.
The announcement of an audit comes a few months after Australia and New Zealand heavily restricted the use of its mesh products for some pelvic surgery.
