Hernia patients who experience complications from hernia mesh repairs and other side effects face having to undergo revision surgery to remove the mesh from their bodies. Removal is possible if complications occur, but such surgery is extremely complicated – particularly if the mesh has eroded into the patient’s tissue. Doctors have to think carefully when answering the question “can you get a hernia mesh removed?”

What Is a Hernia?

A hernia occurs whenever a muscle or tissue weakness allows organs to push through. Hernias are almost always caused by a combination of muscle weakness and strain. A variety of causes can lead to this “perfect storm” and a subsequent hernia, including the following:

• Pregnancy
• Chronic coughing
• Strenuous exercise or lifting
• Constipation
• Obesity
• Fluid in the abdomen
• A congenital condition developed in the womb
• Aging
• Surgery or injuries
• And more

The most common hernia symptom is a palpable bulge or lump in the herniated area. Some patients may find that their hernia lessens in appearance when they lay down and becomes more pronounced while standing, bending, or coughing.

However, some hernias may lead to no symptoms at all. In these cases, the hernia may only be detected during a routine exam or during treatment for another issue.

Are There Different Types of Hernias?

According to WebMD, there are several types of hernias but some are more common than others. The different kinds of hernias are inguinal, incisional, femoral, umbilical, and hiatal.

Because of an inherent weakness in the inguinal canal region of the groin in men, it is not unusual for a man to experience a protrusion of the bowel or bladder into this canal at some point during their life.

An incisional hernia is a weakness in the muscle or connective tissue wall often brought on by abdominal surgery. It is more likely to occur in patients that are obese, senior citizens, or for any reason in those that inadequately move their bodies during recovery.

A femoral hernia affects the canal where the femoral artery and nerves run into the upper thigh. In this type of hernia, the intestine pokes through into the canal. It is more common in females that are overweight or pregnant.

An umbilical hernia is where the small intestine breaches the abdominal wall near the umbilicus or belly button. It is frequently an issue with newborn babies and women who have either given birth to several children or are obese.

Finally, a hiatal hernia is when part of the stomach projects up through the opening in the diaphragmatic wall. This opening is normally large enough for the esophagus, but when part of the stomach pops through as well, the sufferer is likely to experience a great deal of acid reflux symptoms.

What Is Hernia Mesh?

Although most hernias do not lead to life-threatening complications, they do not go away without treatment. In some cases, a hernia is considered to be so mild that treatment is not necessary. Instead, a doctor may opt for a “wait and see” approach. However, other hernias may result in significant risks which can lead a doctor to consider surgical treatment.

Oftentimes, hernia repair uses surgical mesh to add strength to the repair site. This mesh is meant to reduce the likelihood of hernia recurrence in the future. Hernia repairs can be done without mesh, but the vast majority are nowadays completed with surgical mesh.

Are Hernia Mesh Devices Supposed to Be Permanent?

For repairs, some hernia mesh devices are designed to be permanent, providing long-term support to an area affected by a hernia; other hernia mesh devices are designed to degrade over time, usually, after the affected area heals and after additional structural support is no longer needed.

Hernia mesh can be made from a range of materials, according to Stony Brook University Hospital. Most commonly they are made from plastics coated in a protective substance that allows them to be placed near organs without damaging them. These devices are designed to be permanent and to not degrade over time.

Other hernia mesh devices are absorbable and are made from biologic components. The FDA notes that some of these biologic meshes are made from animal tissues that have been processed and disinfected. These mesh devices are not permanent and can degrade and be absorbed by the body. The biologic agents, however, sometimes cause side effects.

Non-absorbable mesh, by contrast, is a permanent implant, and is meant to provide reinforcement to the repair site indefinitely. If there are hernia repair complications, however, mesh may need to be removed surgically.

Are Hernia Mesh Devices Safe?

For more than 50 years, surgeons have used hernia mesh products to help reinforce the repaired hernia. Hernias are apt to recur, and the mesh can strengthen the hernia repair, reducing the odds of recurrence.

Using a mesh device to repair a hernia is considered the standard of care, and their efficacy is backed up by well-designed clinical trials, says Stony Brook. However, some hernia mesh devices may be defective and may not work as intended.

These defects can cause serious complications and can require surgery to remove hernia mesh for the patient’s safety.

What Are Possible Complications?

Common problems that may require revision surgery to remove hernia mesh from a patient include:

• adhesion (fibrous tissue that forms between the mesh and internal organs)
• bowel obstruction or perforation
• infection
• rejection
• migration (the mesh literally falls out of place)

What Are the Symptoms of Mesh Complications?

Aside from chronic pain, a patient may experience:

• unexplained, generalized fatigue
• cognitive difficulty (“brain fog”)
• fever
• joint pain
• skin rash

Any of these symptoms may be a call for removal of hernia mesh from the body. Unfortunately, there are no reliable tests for mesh reactions – and what tests do exist are not covered by most insurance, leaving the patient on the hook.

How Common Are Hernia Mesh Complications?

Physicians in the U.S. who perform inguinal hernia repair claim that mesh complications are rare, affecting fewer than 1% of cases. But since there is little hard data on this problem, there are no exact figures. In 2018, the BBC reported that as many as 170,00 out of 570,00 patients in the U.K. who underwent hernia mesh repair could be experiencing complications – representing a rate of between 12% and 30%.

Is There Any Way to Know Who Will Experience Complications?

Unfortunately, no there is not. Retrospective studies indicate that certain lifestyle choices (such as tobacco and alcohol use) and comorbidities (i.e., diabetes or obesity) can increase the risk of complications.

The length of time between hernia mesh surgery and complications can vary greatly from one patient to another. In most cases, the patient will begin to experience complications within the first several weeks; less frequently, problems may start after three to seven years.

Can You Get a Hernia Mesh Removed?

If a hernia mesh complication occurs, it may be necessary to remove the hernia mesh for the patient’s safety and comfort, even if the mesh was designed to be permanent.

However, hernia removal surgery comes with a risk of complications including infection, as do all surgeries. As such, an operation to remove hernia mesh is not recommended unless the patient is actually suffering complications. Therefore, a doctor has to think about several factors when answering the questions “can you have a hernia mesh removed.”

What Is the Process for the Removal of Hernia Mesh?

Very few surgeons specialize in removal of hernia mesh, being as the operation is rare and difficult. The surgeon will need to make an incision to remove the implant. If the implant has become adhered to the abdominal wall or nearby organs, the doctor might need to remove some abdominal tissue to be sure she or he retrieves all of the implant.

Can I File a Hernia Mesh Lawsuit?

Hernia mesh manufacturers have faced legal action over distributing allegedly defective hernia mesh products – resulting in complications and harm to consumers. It is estimated that over 50,000 lawsuits have been filed against major manufacturers of hernia mesh, which include C.R. Bard, Atrium Medical and Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson).

In many cases, plaintiffs contend that hernia mesh manufacturers have failed to conduct adequate clinical trials on their products before they were introduced to the marketplace. In some cases, manufacturers allegedly knew their products could be linked to complications, but failed to warn the FDA, the medical community or the public.

If you or someone you love has suffered from these or other complications after hernia mesh failure that may require you to remove hernia mesh, 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 hernia mesh 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 medical complications, 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.