Laura Pennington  |  October 25, 2022

Category: Legal News

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Asian man stomach pain

Hernia mesh migration is one of the major complications suffered by patients who have undergone hernia repair using surgical mesh. When the mesh migrates it can lead to debilitating pain from organ perforation and fistulas, which are abnormal connections between the skin and the gastrointestinal tract, as well as serious, even life-threatening injuries.

What is hernia mesh migration?

When a hernia mesh migrates, it literally falls out of place. The mesh moves from the surgical site to another part of the body, usually the intestines, stomach, or pelvic organs. It may migrate because a design defect prevents the mesh from being properly anchored to the surgical site, or the migration may be a side effect of inflammation.

The latter is usually due to an immune response to the mesh material, which can be incompatible with human tissues, according to Drug Safety News.

What are the complications of hernia mesh migration?

Infections and organ perforations are the most common consequences of a mesh falling out of place. The latter can result in abnormal and serious hemorrhaging as well as severe, chronic pain. Fistulae are also not uncommon. In many cases, hernia mesh migration can cause recurrence of the injury.

In extreme cases, the mesh may fold up like a wad of paper and simply move about freely. This can cause irritation of internal tissues, resulting in nerve damage as well as high levels of pain.

Other hernia mesh consequences include organ strangulation, bowel obstruction, and bladder injuries.

Can hernia mesh really puncture other organs?

The migration of hernia mesh has multiple problems for patients who suffer from it. In fact, if the mesh migrates around the body, the patient might suffer more than just the pain from the hernia mesh coming out of place.

If the mesh moves inside the patient’s body from its primary position, the mesh could ultimately puncture another organ and cause additional side effects and problems. While there are many different side effects that patients have reported in connection with hernia mesh, organ perforation is one of the most common and the most serious.

There are three primary ways that organs can be perforated by hernia mesh. These are problems related to the location and inaccurate placement of the mesh, failure of the hernia mesh device, or inappropriate surgical technique.

In most cases where the mesh migrates and perforates an organ, this has happened due to failure of the mesh. A few organs are more likely to be damaged in this process. These include the bladder, the urinary tract, and the bowels. A patient’s blood vessels can also be damaged when pieces of the mesh erode.

A patient might not be easily able to tell that the mesh has moved and punctured other organs. The patient must be familiar with some of the most common side effects of organ perforation, which include high fever, chills, infection, abdominal pain, vomiting, severe and sudden pain, bloating, or increased heart rate. These concerns should be reported to a doctor as soon as possible by any patient suffering from these issues.

What are the symptoms?

Patients who suffer from hernia mesh migration often experience a fever of unknown origin as well as chills, nausea, and vomiting. The surgical site may be red and abnormally warm to the touch due to infection; in addition, the incision may refuse to heal properly. There may also be swelling because of infection or fluid build-up. All of these symptoms are accompanied by severe, ongoing pain.

How is hernia mesh migration diagnosed?

An accurate diagnosis usually requires medical imaging, such as x-rays or CT scans. If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms after having hernia surgery, you should see your physician immediately and get a thorough examination.

Is revision surgery necessary?

Unfortunately, yes – not only to remove the mesh, but also to correct any problems that have occurred as a result, including hernia recurrence.

Are some hernia mesh devices more prone to migration than others?

While virtually any hernia mesh can migrate, a few specific products have been targeted in injury lawsuits. These include:

  • Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh (Ethicon)
  • Atrium C-Qur Edge (Atrium Medical)
  • Ventralex ST, Perfix, 3D Max (C.R. Bard)

Many of these hernia mesh devices were approved through a regulatory shortcut known as 510(k) Premarket Notification and were not subjected to clinical trials or safety studies before they went on the market. Some hernia products have been recalled due to complications.

Do I need an attorney?

If you have been injured due to hernia mesh migration, you have the right to hold the manufacturer accountable. An experienced personal injury lawyer can assist you in recovering damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of income and more.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The hernia mesh attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, hernia mesh lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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