Plaintiff Santa Amalia A., was implanted with a Physiomesh device in October 2014 during a laparoscopic-assisted ventral hernia repair. Several months later, however, Santa Amalia began suffering from severe abdominal pain.

Now this California woman has filed a lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, alleging she has suffered Physiomesh failure and risk of Physiomesh infection.

To fix the issue and stop the pain, she underwent a procedure in July 2015 intended to repair a recurrent incarcerated ventral hernia. During this procedure, however, doctors ended up discovering that the edge of her Physiomesh device had actually moved out of its original position, slipping down into the hernia, which indicates device failure and migration.

The device’s movement, aside from meaning it was useless, also caused serious internal adhesions. She was then implanted with a new Physiomesh device.

According to her lawsuit, the design and defects of the hernia mesh device places patients like Santa Amalia at serious risk of developing a dangerous Physiomesh infection.

This Physiomesh infection lawsuit was filed against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon, Inc. on multiple counts, including defective design, failure to warn, negligence, and punitive damages. Santa Amalia’s husband, Antonio A., also filed on one count of loss of consortium.

Physiomesh Background

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ethicon’s Physiomesh product, known as Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh, back in March 2010.

Ethicon marketed the Physiomesh device as a “sterile, low profile, flexible composite mesh designed for repair of hernias and other fascial deficiencies.” After its approval, the Physiomesh hernia mesh rapidly grew in popularity.

Unfortunately, after its approval and despite its popularity, Ethicon’s Physiomesh became associated with a number of serious side effects. In response to these risks and due to a high rate of Physiomesh failure, in May 2016 Ethicon withdrew its Physiomesh hernia mesh product from the market.

Phsyiomesh Failure Side Effects

Patients who are implanted with Physiomesh may experience a number of serious complications, including but not limited to the following:

• Chronic pain
• Hernia recurrence
• Rejection of the mesh
• Infection
• Device migration
• Scarring
• Inflammation
• Organ adhesion
• Erosion
• Tissue and nerve damage
• Death

Initial complications of this physiomesh device, such as migration, can lead to more serious problems like Physiomesh infection, adhesion, and device failure.

Filing a Lawsuit Over Physiomesh Infection Risk

If you or someone you love has suffered from Physiomesh complications like these after undergoing hernia repair, including Physiomesh infection, even months after the fact, you may be able to file a lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries.

While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by device failure or Physiomesh infection, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.

The Physiomesh Infection Lawsuit is Case No. 1:17-at-00575, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Fresno Division.