What is a Hernia?

A hernia occurs when a portion of the intestines, adipose tissue, or an organ pokes through a weak area of surrounding muscle or connective tissue designed to keep it in place.

Hernias are often associated with age in that the strength of areas become compromised through overuse (repetitive strain), extra weight, and unhealthy habits over time. Hernias can also happen because of bowel straining, poor body mechanics while lifting objects, or illness in which the patient coughs and sneezes a lot.

Hernias can occur in many areas, the most common of which is the groin. This hernia is commonly referred to as inguinal.

Other types of hernias include femoral, incisional, ventral, umbilical, and hiatal. A femoral hernia occurs in the upper thigh or outer groin region while the incisional occurs on the site of the surgical wound. The ventral hernia is confined to the general abdominal wall while the umbilical—as the name implies—happens around the belly button. Finally, a hiatal hernia is more internal and happens around the area of the upper stomach and diaphragm region.

Hernia Mesh Usage

Surgical mesh for hernia repair comes in both synthetic varieties and biologic varieties derived from the tissue of pigs or cows, according to the University of California at Irvine Health (UCIH). Whatever the source, surgical mesh is designed to create and support a greater surface area on and surrounding the opening in muscle or connective tissue. It is used because hernias have such a high recurrence rate.

An assistant professor at UCIH believes that without the use of surgical mesh—that is to say, just using stitches—the likelihood of a hernia returning is very great.

Nevertheless, serious hernia mesh implant problems have been reported, leading to a recall of some of the mesh varieties that were on the market. These reports have also led to hernia mesh lawsuits against manufacturers such as Bard, Ethicon, and Johnson & Johnson.

These hernia mesh implant problems include:

• Formation of adhesions—glue-like scar tissue which binds other tissue to it
• Internal bleeding
• Formation of seromas–unnatural collections of intracellular fluid at surgical sites
• Formation of fistulas—abnormal connections between organs, vascular networks, or intestines

In a hernia mesh article posted in September 2018 in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), it was stated that of the 570,000 hernia repairs undertaken over the past six years in England alone, up to 170,000 patients could have experienced hernia mesh implant problems. The percentage of people that likely have endured complications runs between 12 and 30 percent.

Those that have reported adverse responses to the use of hernia mesh complain of extraordinary pain, difficulty ambulating, and mood destabilization because of the difficulty in carrying out activities of daily living.

Even though hernia mesh products have been on the market for decades and despite improvements in the technology and new versions coming out, users of these continue to face risks and problems. In fact, some recipients of hernia mesh implants say that this surgery has caused them to suffer lifelong complications.

Numerous coatings, materials, and features have been incorporated into hernia mesh designs in recent years, and many of the companies that have pursued this route argue it was in the name of making the products more effective, easier to implant, or safer. However, patients argue that this is not the case at all since many are left with serious or even long-term side effects and issues.

One of the most common challenges is recurrence of the hernia or having to take the implant out entirely. Patients who have undergone these procedures say they were never told about this as a possibility and therefore were unable to make informed decisions about their own medical future.

Bard, Ethicon, and Atrium have all had products associated with complaints from patients who got the mesh. Some of the patients who went back to their doctors for treatment and additional surgery might experience hernia mesh side effects right away, prompting them to make a doctor’s appointment.

Some of these issues, however, can also emerge in a patient who received their hernia mesh implant years ago, according to MedNews, making it challenging for the person to know what to do next or even to draw the connection between the surgery and the side effects.

If you or someone you love has suffered from these or other hernia mesh side effects, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these issues, 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, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you 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.