Hernias can be extremely painful. They happen when an organ, intestine, or fatty tissue squeezes through a hole or a weak spot in surrounding muscle or connective tissues. Most of them occur at the abdominal wall. If a hernia doesn’t go away on its own, a doctor will recommend surgery to fix the problem. Since the 1980s, more doctors have been using mesh-based hernia repairs in order to improve patient outcomes through decreased operative time. They also help shorten the healing process. Most studies also show that mesh reduces hernia recurrence compared to surgeries where mesh isn’t used.
What Is Surgical Mesh?
Surgical mesh is a medical device used to provide additional support to weakened or damaged tissue. Most are made of synthetic material or animal tissue. Synthetic mesh is found in knitted or unknitted sheet forms and can be absorbable, non-absorbable, or a combination of both materials. The animal-derived mesh is made of intestine or skin from pigs or cows that has been processed and disinfected. This kind of mesh is absorbable.
Complications
Since 2005, more than 12 hernia meshes have been recalled for various reasons. Some were the result of mislabeling of packaging documentation, some were the result of counterfeit materials, and some were the result of design defects in the products themselves. Ethicon Physiomesh, TIGR, and Atrium C-Qur are all surgical mesh products that have been linked to dangerous side effects.
The most common adverse effects of surgical mesh are:
Pain
Infection
Recurrence
Adhesion
Obstruction
Perforation
Fistulas
Migration
Rejection
Autoimmune reactions
Nerve damage
Fluid buildup at the site
Recalls
Atrium C-Qur, Ethicon Physiomesh, Ethicon Proceed, and Bard Davol Kugel mesh were all recalled from 2006 to 2013. Atrium recalled thousands of C-QUR V Patch meshes and Edge meshes because the fish oil coating on the mesh could stick to the packaging and peel off. Additionally, it was warned by the FDA for multiple complaints regarding infections related to unsterile mesh.
Ethicon recalled Physiomesh in the summer of 2016 after studies showed a higher incident of revision after repair using its mesh compared to other brands. Another of its products, Proceed, was recalled by the FDA in October 2010, which stated there was potential for delamination in one lot of the product.
C.R. Bard issued three separate class I recalls (usually reserved for products that could result in serious injury or death) from 2005 to 2007, because their mesh possibly led to fistulas and bowel perforation.
Why Hire a Lawyer?
In 2016, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) consolidated the Atrium C-Qur litigation into the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire. Lawsuits across the country were consolidated into the district. They are not a class action lawsuit, but 21 individual lawsuits all litigated in one federal court in New Hampshire.
If you’re experiencing complications from a defective hernia mesh product, you need a legal representative who will fight for you in court. Manufacturers are responsible for the sound quality of their products, and this is even more vital for companies who make medical products. Health care is expensive enough as it is, but if someone requires additional surgery to correct a manufacturing mistake, this can cost people extra time and money. If you’ve been harmed by the negligence of a manufacturer, contact our Dallas personal injury attorneys today. We have passionately represented clients throughout Dallas and Chicago, and we do everything in our power to restore justice on behalf of individuals who have been injured through no fault of their own.
