Infections, adhesions, mesh shrinkage and bowel obstruction are among the hernia mesh problems patients can incur post-surgery.

A hernia means that an organ, intestine or fatty tissue is poking through a hole or a weak area in overlying muscles and tissues. Hernias often occur at the abdominal wall and are sometimes visible as a small bulge upon standing or straining.

Because hernias have a high recurrence rate, surgeons opt to use surgical mesh to add strength to the hernia repair. By the year 2000, ninety percent of groin hernia repairs included the use of mesh. Unfortunately, hernia mesh problemscan occur immediately or even years after surgery.

The FDA reports the most common adverse event reports regarding hernia repairs with mesh include pain, infection, hernia recurrence, adhesions and obstructed bowels. The FDA also receives reports of hernia mesh problems such as mesh migration and shrinkage of the material.

Hernia Mesh Problems Include Infection, Rejection

A mesh-related infection develops in one percent to eight percent of all patients who under hernia repair surgery. The type of mesh used and the preventative steps taken to avoid infections play a large part in the chances of developing infection.

Signs of infection include inflammatory responses such as pain, tenderness, swelling, fever, fatigue, chills or shaking and shivering.

Hernia mesh made of polypropylene plastic may shrink, induce a rejection reaction from the body, or erode inside the body.

Choice of Surgical Mesh Matters

Surgical mesh is often made of synthetic materials that can be absorbable or non-absorbable mesh. The latter is considered a permanent implant, designed to provide permanent support to the hernia repair.

Absorbable mesh degrades and loses strength over time, but newly grown tissue is supposed to provide the needed strength to the hernia repair.

Some hernia mesh is made from processed, disinfected animal skin or intestines. Animal-based mesh is most likely from pigs or cows and is always absorbable.

Atrium Facing Claims Due to C-Qur Line of Hernia Mesh

Atrium Medical is one company that has faced litigation due to several hernia mesh problems.

The company’s C-Qur line of mesh products gained momentum in 2010 when the company signed a three-year contract with Premier Inc., a group purchasing organization that supplies goods to more than 1,000 hospitals throughout the country.

In 2012, the FDA warned Atrium about changing its sterilization process without first conducting proper testing. The company was also cited for ignoring reports of hernia mesh infections that stemmed from the C-Qur product line.

The FDA even found multiple instances of pieces of human hair embedded in the supposedly sterile mesh products.

In 2013, Atrium declared a class II recall on the C-Qur line of mesh, but none of the hernia mesh products were taken off the market. Instead, Atrium sent letters to doctors to advise them that the Omega 3 fish oil coating could stick to the packaging and peel away from the mesh.

The coating was designed to prevent the mesh plastic from direct contact with a patient’s internal organs.

If you have suffered from hernia mesh problems, you could benefit by speaking to a lawyer regarding hernia mesh litigation options.