LVMR mesh claim success
This is a case study of a successful LVMR mesh claim where we recovered £200,000 for a woman who underwent a Laparoscopic Ventral Mesh Rectopexy (“LVMR”) carried out by Mr Anthony Dixon. Mr Dixon has faced multiple legal claims against him and is awaiting a GMC hearing.
What is LVMR?
LVMR is an operation which is performed to straighten and attach the rectum back into its normal position within the pelvis.
Events leading up to the LVMR procedure
Our client started to experience some faecal incontinence, with some diarrhoea, but was able to manage her condition with pads. She was prescribed antibiotics and was referred for physiotherapy, but this did not help. Subsequently, she was referred to hospital for further investigation and diagnosed with anismus.
She had an appointment with Mr Dixon who advised she needed an LVMR. No alternative treatments were discussed. In addition to this, our client was not informed of the risks associated with LVMR mesh surgery and she was under the impression from Mr Dixon that the outcome of the surgery would be successful.
Post procedure
Post-operatively, our client suffered from rectal pain, discharge and needed the toilet more frequently. The faecal incontinence worsened, and she started to suffer from urinary stress incontinence also.
She subsequently started to experience vaginal bleeding and pain. An examination was carried out and it was found that the LVMR mesh had eroded in her vagina.
She had two lots of revision surgery, both performed by Mr Dixon, but these still didn’t alleviate her symptoms and the vaginal bleeding continued.
She therefore obtained a second opinion. An examination was performed under anaesthetic and it was found that a small area of mesh was protruding. This area was repaired.
An MRI scan showed that our client was suffering from further mesh erosion. Further surgery to remove the mesh was discussed but this involved the risk that our client would need a colostomy — a surgical procedure where the colon is shortened to remove a damaged part and the cut end diverted to an opening in the abdominal wall.
Our client did not want to pursue further surgery due to this risk.
The LVMR Mesh claim
Caroline Webber-Brown, who is a solicitor and partner specialising in LVMR mesh claims, took this case on under our popular no win – no fee funding scheme.
Following initial investigations via the Mesh ADR Protocol, the hospital admitted legal liability for the failure to explore less invasive, non-surgical options with our client, before proceeding with the LVMR surgery.
We also established that the use of the LVMR procedure for anismus was a ‘contraindication’, meaning this procedure was never suitable for our client’s condition and it would not have resolved her symptoms.
After extensive settlement negotiations, Caroline reached a successful resolution of the case, recovering compensation totalling £200,000, for our client.