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If after hernia surgery, your hernia mesh is infected, you may need a subsequent surgery. There are a variety of types of mesh used to reinforce the repair of many hernias and the body may react to some of them by rejecting the material, which can make the area ripe for infection, a known hernia mesh side effect.
What is Hernia Repair Surgery?
After experiencing a hernia—a condition where an organ, intestine, or fatty tissue breach a hole or weak spot in the muscle or connective tissue, most commonly in the abdominal wall—many patients undergo hernia repair surgery.
Hernia repairs are quite common. In fact, more than a million hernia repair surgeries take place every year in the United States. Surgical hernia repair can be done laparoscopically using several small incisions, or with an open repair, using one larger incision. Generally, a hernia mesh device is used in these procedures.
Unfortunately, hernia repair comes with potential risks. Complications of hernia repair surgery include pain, infection, hernia recurrence, adhesion, and perforation. For some patients, the hernia mesh device must be removed to effectively treat the issue.
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) published a BBC investigation that found nearly 170,000 hernia mesh patients may have experienced complications over the course of six years, putting the complication rate up to 30%. According to the report, patients experienced pain, insomnia, difficulty walking, and even doing simple daily tasks as a result of hernia mesh complications.
Patients who are concerned that their hernia mesh is infected should seek medical attention.
What If The Incision Feels Warm or I Still Have Pain in My Abdomen?
Any time a wound feels warmer than the rest of the body, there is the chance an infection is festering. Even in the absence of pus or fluid retention in the site, a warm feeling should be investigated.
If you have any pain or tenderness, you may have internal inflammation around the mesh. Inflammation may be a reaction to polypropylene, a polyester material that is used as the base for many hernia mesh products. For a short time, pain after surgery is normal but continued or worsening pain could be indications of infection.
My Incision Doesn’t Appear to be Healing Well. Does That Mean the Hernia Mesh Is Infected?
If the skin near the incision appears pink, feels warm, or retains fluid, you may be suffering from an infection in and around the hernia mesh.
Why Would Flu Symptoms Indicate a Hernia Mesh Infection?
When the body fights infection, symptoms of this fight can be the same no matter where the infection is in the body. Chills, fever, nausea, and even vomiting may be signs that your body is struggling to rid an infection.
Is There a Link Between Dental Problems and Hernia Mesh Infections?
According to a 2016 article in the Journal of Oral Microbiology, periodontal disease may be the result of more than 600 different types of bacteria in the mouth. Many of these bacteria can be spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream, and some hernia mesh infections have been linked to bacteria found in the mouth.
Have Any Hernia Mesh Products Been Recalled?
Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon recalled its Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh in May 2016 after determining the product had higher revision rates than the company expected, but the company has never determined why.
What Are Other Complications Related to Hernia Mesh?
In addition to bacterial infections, hernia mesh has been related to other complications, such as:
- Adhesions (thick scar tissue)
- Obstructions in the bowel
- Mesh migration
- Hernia recurrence
- Mesh shrinkage, which causes pain as internal tissues are tugged
Have Lawsuits Been Filed Due to Hernia Mesh Problems?
Yes. When hernia mesh is infected, sometimes the mesh is so infiltrated with scar tissue that it’s impossible to remove all of the mesh. The remaining mesh can lead to chronic pain and a need for revision surgeries later.
Lawsuits have been filed to recover lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
In some cases, punitive damages have been awarded when the manufacturer has been found at fault for failing to adequately test the mesh before placing it on the market, failing to warn of potential complications, failing to create a safe mesh device, or providing misleading safety information to doctors and patients.
Hernia Mesh Lawsuits
As of December 2019, a report from the Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation counted nearly 8,000 hernia mesh lawsuits. Lawsuits have been lodged against three manufacturers: Bard, Atrium, and Ethicon.
Thousands of these lawsuits are pending as consolidated multidistrict litigation and in state courts across the country. The first trials began this year and many more are set for 2021, including an Atrium C-QUR trial scheduled for January 2021.
According to the New Hampshire Business Review (NHBR), Atrium Medical Corp faces a class action lawsuit representing over 2,000 patients who claim they were injured by the company’s defective hernia mesh. The lawsuits allege that the fish oil derivative used to coat the mesh led to infections in patients. NHBR also reports that some of the defendants named in hernia mesh lawsuits have agreed to settlements totaling in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Can I File a Hernia Mesh Lawsuit?
If you or someone you love has suffered from these or other hernia mesh problems, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these complications, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially while dealing with health issues, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.
Join a Free Hernia Mesh Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you underwent hernia surgery and suffered severe pain, your complications may be the result of a defective mesh product made by one of the four main hernia mesh manufacturers, Ethicon, C.R. Bard, Covidien, and Atrium.
You may qualify to seek compensation for your injuries through a hernia mesh repair lawsuit.
Learn more by filling out the form on this page for a free case evaluation.
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