Davol Inc. and C.R. Bard Inc. are facing a new hernia mesh failure lawsuit filed by a woman alleging she suffered severe complications and adverse side effects after becoming implanted with a Composix L/P hernia mesh.

Plaintiff Natalia R. files the hernia mesh failure lawsuit in Missouri federal court. The lawsuit was filed on June 22, 2018. According to the hernia mesh failure lawsuit, Natalia is a resident and citizen of the state of Missouri.

She says that she became implanted with the Composix L/P hernia mesh during a hermia mesh repair surgery on May 6, 2013. She later underwent secondary surgery to repair a recurrent umbilical hernia on June 13, 2014, the hernia mesh failure lawsuit states.

According to the lawsuit, the physician who performed the surgery stated that “[u]pon identifying the hernia and the mesh, the mesh was essentially consumed into an enlarging hernia. This mesh was then taken down using blunt dissection and scissors,” he states.

The physician adds that he concluded the surgery by implanting a portion of Ventralight mesh into her abdomen.

On Dec. 15, 2015, Natalia says she underwent a ventral hernia repair and became implanted with a biological mesh. She also underwent removal of the mesh, abdominal wall reconstruction, cholecystectomy, lysis of adhesions, bilateral abdominoplasty and small bowel reconstruction.

Natalia says her physician reported that he “was able to dissect above the old mesh and excise the old mesh in toto … There was a piece of small bowel that was entrapped in the hernia that appeared to be somewhat stenotic and damaged … I elected to excise this portion of the mesh.”

The hernia mesh failure lawsuit was filed on multiple counts including manufacturing defect, design defect, failure to warn, negligence, breach of express warranty, violation of consumer protection laws, gross negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, manufacturing defect, design defect, failure to warn, negligence, breach of implied warranty, and punitive damages.

Natalia demands a trial by jury.

Overview: Hernia Mesh Failure

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a hernia occurs as muscle tissue or connective tissue pushes through an organ.

This may be caused under a number of conditions such as the lifting of heavy objects, diarrhea, obesity, constipation, and coughing/sneezing excessively. A hernia that is most commonly seen occurs at the abdominal wall which may be caused as increased pressure pushes on the abdomen.

Other types of hernia can occure at the abdominal/ventral wall; at the inner groin known as an inguinal hernia; at an incision made in the abdomen known as an incisional hernia; at the naval called an umbilical hernia and inside the abdomen known as a hiatal hernia.

The severe injuries and complications result from the hernia mesh’s biological incompatibility with human tissue. Patients have suffered complications such as bowel obstruction, migration, oxidation, malfunction of the memory recoil ring and breakage of the hernia mesh.

The hernia mesh, designed by Davol, Inc. and C.R. Bard, Inc. known as the Composix L/P hernia mesh, is composed of a polypropylene coating made of Omega-3 oil. While its purpose is to help prevent the mesh from attaching to the body’s tissues, plaintiffs claim it’s been seen to cause all sorts of problems and injuries to patients implanted with it.

The Hernia Mesh Failure Lawsuit is Case No. 6:18-cv-03193-SRB, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.