Prominent vaginal mesh campaigner, 42, DIES from sepsis

A prominent vaginal mesh campaigner has died from sepsis which was triggered by her controversial implant, it has been reported.

Christina Brajcic, 42, from Ontario, Canada, passed away on Thursday following a four-year battle with persistent infections – as a result of her mesh.

During her final few months, she posted an array of videos detailing her struggle with the scandal-hit devices on her Facebook page. 

Tributes have flooded in for the ‘courageous’ interior designer, who helped to raise awareness of the ‘catastrophic’ mesh, which leaves many in crippling pain. 

The implants, which can shrink, twist, curl and cut through internal tissue, have ruined the lives of thousands of women, leaving some on the brink of suicide. 

Ms Brajcic’s death follows landmark moves by English and Australian health officials to recommend the controversial implants should no longer be used.

Christina Brajcic, 42, from Ontario, Canada, passed away on Thursday following a four-year battle with persistent infections – as a result of her mesh

It is expected that the NHS will follow the guidance from Nice, the Government’s healthcare adviser – despite not being obligated to do so. 

The verdict comes after the Government released its three-year investigation into the mesh scandal last September. It rejected calls for a ban at the time.

Australian watchdogs also banned the use of vaginal mesh implants for prolapse last week after a review found ‘the benefits do not outweigh the risks’.

However, vaginal mesh remains a viable option for surgeons operating on women suffering from incontinence in both countries.  

When did her problems begin? 

Before her operation to have TVT mesh fitted in 2013, Ms Brajcic was ‘fit and active’, according to a fundraising page created since her death.

Ms Brajcic, who had her own business, endured mild stress incontinence following the birth of her two sons, Ben and Jake.

However, soon after the procedure she suffered debilitating pain – a complaint that has been raised by thousands of other women with the mesh fitted.

She then began to get constant infections – a problem suffered by scores of women that MailOnline has reported on since it backed calls for a ban. 

During her final few months, she posted an array of videos detailing her struggle with the scandal-hit devices on her Facebook page

During her final few months, she posted an array of videos detailing her struggle with the scandal-hit devices on her Facebook page

Tributes have flooded in for the 'courageous' interior designer, who helped to raise awareness of the 'catastrophic' mesh, which leaves many in crippling pain

Tributes have flooded in for the ‘courageous’ interior designer, who helped to raise awareness of the ‘catastrophic’ mesh, which leaves many in crippling pain

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MESH

Different types of mesh implants include:

  • Mini-sling: This implant is embedded with a metallic inserter. It sits close to the mid-section of a woman’s urethra. The use of an inserter is thought to lower the risk of cutting during the procedure.
  • TVT sling: Such a sling is held in place by the patient’s body. It is inserted with a plastic tape by cutting the vagina and making two incisions in the abdomen. The mesh sits beneath the urethra.
  • TVTO sling: Inserted through the groin and sits under the urethra. This sling was intended to prevent bladder perforation. 
  • TOT sling: Involves forming a ‘hammock’ of fibrous tissue in the urethra. Surgeons often claim this form of implant gives them the most control during implantation.
  • Ventral mesh rectopexy: Releases the rectum from the back of the vagina or bladder. A mesh is then fitted to the back of the rectum to prevent prolapse.

Ms Brajcic eventually became resistant to antibiotics, having been given so many during her four year battle with vaginal mesh complications.

It’s reported she would be pumped full of strong medication in her local hospital’s emergency department at least once a month. 

Fundraising efforts 

Kath Sansom, founder of Sling The Mesh, created a JustGiving page to raise £1,000 to send to Ms Brajcic’s young sons. So far, it has raised £947.

Writing on the post, Ms Sansom, 49, said: ‘Chrissy was a courageous woman who, despite her suffering, remained, calm, strong and beautiful.

‘Let her death not be in vain.’ Ms Sansom also described her as ‘determined to spread the message to stop other women suffering’.

Sling The Mesh has almost quadrupled in members in recent months. Nearly 4,600, mostly sufferers, now support the cause to ban vaginal mesh implants.

When did the scandal come to light? 

The scandal came to light in April, when the NHS tried to dodge media attention over the implants that left hundreds of women in agony.

Senior doctors immediately called for a public inquiry into the controversial mesh, with some saying the scandal could be akin to thalidomide.

Before her operation to have TVT mesh fitted in 2013, Ms Brajcic was 'fit and active', according to a fundraising page (pictured with her sons Ben and Jake and husband)

Before her operation to have TVT mesh fitted in 2013, Ms Brajcic was ‘fit and active’, according to a fundraising page (pictured with her sons Ben and Jake and husband)

Ms Brajcic eventually became resistant to antibiotics, having been given so many during her four year battle with vaginal mesh complications

Ms Brajcic eventually became resistant to antibiotics, having been given so many during her four year battle with vaginal mesh complications

NICE RECOMMEND IT SHOULD BE BANNED

Controversial vaginal mesh implants should be banned, Nice said last week.

The health watchdog recommends the ‘gold-standard’ implants should not be routinely offered for treating organ prolapse but instead just used for research or after patients are made aware of the risks. 

In a series of documents about vaginal mesh implants to be published in December, Nice said that ‘evidence of long-term efficacy is inadequate in quality and quantity’.

It added that ‘when complications occur, these can be serious and have life-changing consequences’ 

Yet, Nice also said most women do not report complications after being fitted with such implants.

The health watchdog only commented on organ prolapse and not urinary incontinence or hernias, which implants are also used for.   

At the time, it was reported that at least 800 women were suing the NHS and device manufacturers. However, it is unsure how many women are now looking to take action in Britain. 

Mesh, introduced 20 years ago and dubbed ‘gold-standard’, was promoted as a quick, cheap alternative to complex surgery for incontinence and prolapse. 

Because it did not require specialist training to implant, outraged women have since begged for tougher regulations to conduct such surgery. 

High-risk device in the US 

Vaginal mesh has been considered a high-risk device for nearly a decade in the US, with bodies accepting up to 40 per cent of women may experience injury.

Some studies, published in an array of scientific journals, have shown that pain, erosion and perforation from the surgery can strike up to 75 per cent of women.

The alarming evidence prompted officials in three US states to suspend the practice and saw them call for an urgent review into its safety.

It's reported she would be pumped full of strong medication in her local hospital's emergency department at least once a month

It’s reported she would be pumped full of strong medication in her local hospital’s emergency department at least once a month

Scottish officials asked for it to be suspended in Scotland in 2014 pending a similar review, but hundreds of women are still believed to be having the surgery.

More than 10,000 women a year are fitted with mesh. But only 4,800 have suffered lacerations and nerve damage from the mesh breaking into tiny fragments.

However, campaigners stress these are just the tip of the iceberg and that actually there are thousands more – but they have been kept silent.

Leading mesh manufacturer Johnson & Johnson was forced to pay out $57 million in September to a woman fitted with the implant.

Ella Ebaugh, 51, from Philadelphia, was awarded the eight-figure sum after a jury found the company to be negligent and its product defective.

Anyone wanting to donate to Ms Brjacic’s family can do so here. 

HOW MANY WOMEN SUFFER?

According to the NHS and MHRA, the risk of vaginal mesh pain after an implant is between one and three per cent.

Yet, a study by Case Western Reserve University found that up to 42 per cent of patients experience complications.

Of which, 77 per cent report severe pain and 30 per cent claim to have a lost or reduced sex life.

Urinary infections have been reported in around 22 per cent of cases, while bladder perforation occurs in up to 31 per cent of incidences.

Critics of the implants say trials confirming their supposed safety have been small or conducted in animals, who are unable to describe pain or a loss of sex life.

According to Kath Samson, head of the Sling The Mesh campaign, surgeons often refuse to accept vaginal mesh implants are causing recipient’s pain, and are not obligated to report such complications anyway.

She said: ‘Less than 40 per cent of surgeons report vaginal mesh implant side effects.

‘In last 10 years, 126,000 mesh and tape implants have been fitted in England alone.

‘In that period around 4,800 women have gone into hospital with a mesh complication, but the number reported to the MHRA is just over 1,000.

‘Many more women would have experienced pain but never gone to hospital.’



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk