A man suffering hernia mesh symptoms has filed a lawsuit against Atrium Medical Corp., makers of Atrium ProLite hernia mesh.

Plaintiff Joseph S. claims he sufferedhernia mesh symptoms because his ProLite mesh was defective and caused him to suffer a painful revision surgery and permanent injuries.

ProLite mesh is made of a mid-weight polypropylene and was designed to treat hernias. ProLite was FDA-approved through the agency’s “Substantial Equivalence” program, which allows products similar to those already FDA-approved to enter the market without proven tests of safety or efficacy.

Atrium marketed ProLite hernia mesh as being of similar design to its competitors, including Davol/Bard mesh, Ethicon Prolene mesh, Covidien Surgipro mesh and Covidien Parietex mesh, all of which have subsequently been involved in similar lawsuits regarding their own hernia mesh symptoms that lead to mesh failure and permanent injuries.

Hernia Mesh Symptoms Indicative of Adhesions

Joseph was 42 years old when he underwent surgery for a lower abdominal hernia in 2015. He was implanted with two identical pieces of Atrium ProLite hernia mesh that measured six inches square which were held in place with surgical tacks.

After determining that conservative efforts to control Joseph’s ongoing severe pain were not working, his doctor removed the right mesh in February 2017. His doctor reported finding significant adhesions of the mesh and said he “tried to separate the peritoneum from the mesh, but it was clear that there was no way that was going to happen.”

The surgeon had to cauterize the mesh from Joseph’s pubic tubercle, which is the bone that leads to the pubic area from the spine. The doctor noted further adhesions were found to the pubis and to the iliac joint.

In September 2017, Joseph endured hernia repair surgery to his left side, where mesh had adhered to his intestines.

Joseph says he continues to suffer chronic pain among his lingering hernia mesh symptoms. He remains unable to work because of these hernia mesh symptoms, he claims.

Joseph maintains that if he and his doctor had known the risks of adhesion and tack failure in Atrium’s ProLite mesh, he never would have accepted the allegedly defective product.

The hernia mesh symptoms lawsuit cites an August 2017 article from a journal entitled Membranes, which indicates ProLite has a risk of adhesions in general, even when the mesh is implanted correctly.

In addition, Joseph claims, Atrium should have been aware that polypropylene is prohibited from being permanently implanted in the human body. This warning against using the material in permanent implants is found on the United States Material Safety Data Sheet.

The hernia mesh symptoms lawsuit further alleges that Atrium should have known the polypropylene material would cause an “immune reaction that results from such material, and causes adverse reactions and injuries, including adhesions.”

Atrium also stands accused of failing to appropriately study the mesh’s propensity to shrink or contract once implanted in the human body, which can cause surrounding tissue to produce scar tissue that results in injuries.

The Hernia Mesh Symptoms Lawsuit is Case No. 4:17-cv-00160-JHM-HBB in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Owensboro Division.