The long-term impact of surgical mesh devices in UK primary care: a 20-year retrospective case-control study

Our research proposal is responding to the “biggest health scandal since thalidomide” and several recent government enquiries into the safety of surgical mesh in the UK. Surgical mesh implants have been used for the past 20 years to treat stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and hernias. However, follow-up data on the long-term outcomes for patients who receive mesh is lacking; particularly in the primary care setting where patients are treated and managed by their general practitioners (GP) long after surgery.

Recently, public attention on the complications after mesh procedures have increased. Such complications may include, debilitating pain, infection, inflammation, loss of sex life, mobility problems, repeat surgeries, bladder injury, mesh erosion and removals. Now, more than 100,000 women worldwide are taking legal action over the misconduct and accumulating report of harms. On 10th July 2018, the government put an immediate suspension on transvaginal surgical mesh devices in England following recommendations by an independent review of the evidence. Our research is led by patient input from over 6,000 patient representatives who are calling for more information into the harms caused by mesh. Our study will use data from GP records to fill the evidence gap on the long-term patient outcomes and harms in primary care following surgical mesh implants. This will inform current health policy decisions and shared decision making between patients and clinicians to ensure the safety and management of patients in primary care.