Patients awaiting treatment of their hernia are often told that they will need surgery to repair the condition. For many, this is a painful condition, and they are willing to go to any lengths possible in order to get relief from symptoms.

However, hernia mesh complications that may arise following hernia repair surgery are not always clearly outlined to patients undergoing a hernia mesh repair procedure. For this reason, it is important that patients understand potential hernia complications and related symptoms that may present following a hernia surgery procedure.

What Is a Hernia?

A hernia is a condition that occurs when the tissue in the body has suffered from damage or weakness and allows organs to push through that tissue into an area where they are not supposed to be located.

As an example, a hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach pushes up through the musculature and ends up with a bulging area in the patient’s esophagus. This can be a very painful situation and is linked to severe heartburn symptoms which may mimic a heart attack.

In addition to hiatal hernias, hernias may also be found in the inguinal area (inner groin) , stomach, umbilical area, femoral area (outer groin), ventral area (in the leg near the groin) and incisional hernias the occur at the site of an incision. The most common hernia is an inguinal hernia, which represents about 3/4 of all cases of hernias.

Some infants are born with congenital hernias of various types while other individuals go on to acquire these later on in life. Sometimes hernias don’t do much more than cause pain, and other times they can lead to additional complications. In general, hernia repair surgery is recommended to treat the condition.

Open hernia repair and minimally invasive, or laparoscopic, hernia repair are both commonly performed, and the majority of these surgeries use hernia mesh in the procedure.

Basically, hernia mesh is a medical device that is used as a “patch” that is placed over the bulging area to secure the body part back in its intended location. Many of these surgeries go on to be successful, however complications from hernia mesh can arise.

Hernia Mesh Complications

There are two main ways hernia mesh complications may present in the body. One is by the body’s rejection of the product and another is from structural issues created by the mesh product.

Hernia mesh rejection can occur anytime a person’s body mounts an inflammatory response after a foreign object is placed in the body. The body produces this exaggerated response in order to rid the body of the offending invader, in this case, the hernia mesh product.

The body responds in this way similarly to when an inflammatory response is started in response to bacteria or viruses.

Sometimes, the physical structure of the mesh itself leads to hernia mesh complications. In some cases, the hernia mesh does not stay put and can migrate to other parts of the body. This may cause pain and infection at the new site of the migrated hernia mesh.

Hernia mesh devices are prone to shrinkage. When this happens, the product pulls on the organs where the mesh product was attached. This can cause organ damage and pain at the hernia mesh site.

Fistulas may also form in response to hernia mesh. Fistulas are abnormal connections that are created in the body in hollow spaces. Seromas, or fluid filled pockets, are also possible hernia mesh complications.

Adhesions and scar tissue may result from hernia mesh complications. These can lead to even more inflammation and pain. Intestinal obstruction, bowel obstruction, organ perforation and nerve damage have also all been reported as hernia mesh complications.

Taking Action Following Hernia Mesh Complications

If you have suffered hernia mesh complications after surgery to repair your hernia, you may be entitled to seek legal compensation for your injuries.

Attorneys familiar with hernia mesh complications can provide you with a free case review to go over your unique situation and to provide you with guidance on how to proceed if you choose to pursue litigation.