Hernia mesh failure is when the body rejects the mesh leading to very severe and life threatening side effects which could eventually be fatal. Hernia mesh is used in more than one million hernia surgeries each year. It is the most commonly used hernia treatment in modern health, used in 90% of all procedures. The mesh is placed behind the hernia using a small incision. Although the mesh has proven successful for thousands of patients, many have experienced complications after the procedure. Infection is the most common complaint. The complications have been so widespread that the FDA has recalled numerous hernia meshes since their initial approval. Sadly, many people were negatively impacted by the hernia meshes before these recalls. Many victims suffered hernia mesh complications and problems years later. Hernia mesh pain years later could be caused by hernia mesh rejection.
WHAT IS HERNIA MESH FAILURE?
A hernia mesh failure is when the mesh causes severe complications such as migration, bowel obstruction, contraction, erosion, sepsis (septic shock) or when there is a severe infection. If those side effects occur, surgeons must often remove the defective hernia mesh. Hernia mesh failure can occur with hernia mesh currently on the market as well as recalled hernia mesh.
WHAT ARE THE HERNIA MESH FAILURE SYMPTOMS?
The following complications are examples of signs and symptoms of hernia mesh failure to be aware of:
- Severe and or chronic pain
- Fever or flu-like symptoms caused by an infection.
- “Bowel obstruction: nausea, vomiting, and inability to pass gas or stools”
- “Mesh migration or shrinkage: can lead to adhesions, bowel obstruction, or abscesses (a pocket of pus)”
- “Mesh rejection: severe swelling at the surgical site, tenderness or pain”
- “Hernia recurrence” Dr. Mark Reiner
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE A HERNIA MESH FAILURE?
“If you have a hernia mesh failure, your doctor may have to perform surgery to remove the mesh and will also have to repair the hole. Another hernia repair surgery may be necessary, and this can be more difficult to perform. Since tissue may already be damaged and scar tissue may have formed, these areas will have to be avoided as your doctor performs your surgery. Medication may also be needed to fight an infection or other symptoms.” NYC Hernia surgery
Hernia Mesh Information & Facts
The hernia mesh has been used to treat hernias since the 1980s, although a surge in their usage came about in the early 2000s. The mesh provides support to the damaged tissue around the hernia. The mesh can be used to treat any type of hernia of any size. Most of the hernia mesh product used today are made of synthetic materials, but other choices are also available.
Types of Hernia Mesh
Many different brands, shapes, and sizes of hernia mesh products are available. Hernia mesh patch are placed over or under the hernia tissue; plugs are used inside a hole in the tissue; and sheets are custom-fitted to fit the patient’s specific hernia size. Mesh products are made from a variety of materials and divided into different categories. This includes:
- Absorbable Hernia Mesh
- Non-Absorbable Hernia Mesh
- Coated Hernia Mesh
- Synthetic Hernia Mesh
Why Hernia Mesh Recalls?
Thousands of hernia mesh surgeries have been performed over the last 30 years. In fact, more than 200,000 hernia mesh products has been recalled during this time. Many of these are successful, however, it is reported that approximately 7.6% of these surgeries result in complications that cause infections. That’s more than 70,000 infections from the hernia mesh each year. When a recalled hernia mesh is used in the surgery, the risks are even greater. The hernia mesh recalls occur once a company learns there is a defect in their product. The FDA tracks reports on hernia mesh surgeries and usage and sometimes orders the recalls due to complications. In fact, the FDA recalled certain Bard hernia mesh products over the years. In 2016, Ethicon voluntarily withdrew their product, Physiomesh from the market after product failure.
What are Hernia mesh failure signs?
Some of the most common types of hernia mesh failures signs include:
- Mesh Contraction and erosion: Mesh collapses and doesn’t cover the hernia location.
- Mesh Migration: This occurs when the mesh moves to another area of the body.
- Mesh Perforation: Mesh perforation happens when a hole forms in an organ near the mesh.
- Mesh Obstruction: This is the most common cause of infections. It happens when there is a blockage in the small or large intestine. Bowel obstruction is one of the worst complications caused by hernia mesh.
- Mesh Adhesion: Mesh adhesion occurs when the mesh causes scar-like tissues to stick to other tissues.
- Mesh ripped: People often do not know whether their mesh ripped and often search for info about, “how to know if hernia mesh ripped.”
- Organ Perforation
- Fistula formation
Common Types of Hernia Mesh Complications
When a hernia mesh causes complications, it is oftentimes pain and infection that the patient endures. However, there are many other complications that can occur after the surgery. Many of these complications have lifelong consequences that cause the patient inadequate quality of life. As such, many patients who’ve experienced hernia mesh failure choose to file a lawsuit against the product manufacturer. Other potential problems resulting from the hernia mesh include adhesion, bowel obstruction, and hernia recurrence.
Although a hernia mesh is supposed to be removed from the market after it is recalled, there are potential cases where the product is not removed but instead is used in a surgery. This is usually a case of medical malpractice and gives you the grounds to file a lawsuit seeking damages, whether the use of the recalled product was intentional or otherwise. It is best to speak with an attorney to learn what you can do if a hernia mesh has caused you an injury.
Defective Hernia Mesh?
If you have already had a surgery and use one of the defective mesh products or a product that has been recalled, do not wait to take action. Proper medical care is obviously the first step, but you should not stop there. Learn if the mesh is recalled using the FDA hernia mesh recall tool available on their website. You need the product name and manufacturer name and a product number to use the tool. If your device is one that’s sustained a recall, talk to your doctor and then a personal injury lawyer. You may be able to file a lawsuit if you’ve endured complications after the hernia mesh surgery, even if the product is not on the recall list.
Talk to an Attorney
Personal injury lawyers help victims injured by medical devices and medical malpractice. Although nothing can change the accident, a hernia mesh rejection complications attorney can make you whole again, providing financial compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. You can rest assured that a hernia mesh lawsuit attorney will fight to ensure that your voice is heard about the matter, something that does not always happen without an injury. If you’ve been injured by a hernia mesh, you should not take the matter lightly and should speak to an attorney. There is no cost to consult with a hernia mesh lawsuit attorney to learn more information about recall products, lawsuits, and the next steps that you should take in your case. The surgical mesh lawyer will start the case without any cash needed if he determines you have grounds to file a lawsuit. Many lawyers attempt to settle out of court, but it may very well go before a judge or jury if a settlement cannot be made ahead of the court date. Since the lawyer gets paid only if and when he wins your case, there is never worry about money, as it should be after you’ve been injured.
https://www.drugwatch.com/hernia-mesh/
https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/ListofRecalls/default.htm