Physiomesh complications have led to a hernia mesh lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon.

Plaintiff Mary N. says she underwent a laparascopic ventral hernia repair surgery on Nov. 10, 2015. Her surgeons implanted Ethicon’s Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh, which was to add strength to the hernia repair.

Post-surgery, “her condition became steadily worse wit persistent abdominal pain, diminished bowel motility and bowel obstruction,” according to her Physiomesh lawsuit. On Nov. 15, 2015, Mary was re-admitted to the hospital with severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and abdominal distention. Tests showed the hernia had recurred and fluid was seen in her pelvic area. She was released from the hospital on Nov. 25, 2015.

In October 2016, Mary underwent surgery for severe hernia recurrence. She alleges she had endured months of increasing pain, discomfort and illness due to Physiomesh complications.

The defective Physiomesh “had not completely incorporated into the abdominal wall and had begun to disintegrate, with a recurrent hernia noted in areas where the mesh had torn and disintegrated.” Portions of Mary’s intestines were protruding through the deteriorated parts of the mesh. She also suffered an intestinal obstruction.

The Physiomesh complications necessitated “a prolonged surgical procedure to attempt to remove the mesh from her abdomen and intestines,” she claims.

Plaintiff: Design Issues Led to Physiomesh Complications

Physiomesh is made of five layers. Two layers of polyglecaprone-25 (Monocryl) film cover two underlying layers of polydioxanone film, which coat a polypropylene mesh. Ethicon claimed the multi-layer coating was intended to prevent or reduce the possibilities of adhesions and inflammation.

The impermeable multi-layer coating prevented fluid to escape, which led to infection.

According to the Physiomesh complications lawsuit, “[t]he multi-layer coating provides a breeding ground for bacteria in which the bacteria cannot be eliminated by the body’s immune response, which allows infection to proliferate.”

Because of the polypropylene material’s weakness, the device was apt to rupture or become deformed, adding risk of a hernia that it was designed to treat.

Over time, the multi-layer coating degrades. The exposed polypropylene mesh becomes adjoined to nearby tissue and can become adhered to internal organs such as the intestines. Bowel perforation or bowel strangulation are possible as well.

The Physiomesh complications lawsuit alleges Mary has suffered from all of these design defects and was never warned of the potential dangerous nature of the product. Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon “knew or should have known” of the potential problems associated with Physiomesh before releasing the product on the market.

The Physiomesh complications lawsuit also points out that ironically, “the Physiomesh product cost significantly more than competitive products because of its unique multi-layer coating, even though the multi-layer coating provided no benefit to consumers, and increased the risks to patients implanted with these devices.”

If you have undergone hernia repair surgery using the Physiomesh product and suffered ongoing problems, you could be eligible for compensation and could benefit by speaking with an attorney.

The Physiomesh Complications Lawsuit is Case No. 5:17-cv-01551-JMC in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Orangeburg Division.