A North Carolina resident alleges in a recent Atrium lawsuit that his hernia mesh removal surgery led to injury and further surgery.

Plaintiff Elbern P. says he underwent hernia repair surgery to implant hernia mesh in May 2010. The hernia mesh used was a C-QUR mesh, a product manufactured by Atrium Medical Corporation.

However, the plaintiff began experiencing complications around July 2012, just over two years after the surgery. First, Elbern was admitted to the hospital after two days of abdominal pain, where a partial bowel obstruction was discovered.

In August 2012, Elbern underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, or EGD, which revealed a hiatal hernia, a condition caused when the stomach pushes upward through the diaphragm. Adhesions on the abdominal wall were discovered in February 2014, and a bowel obstruction in April 2014.

After all of these complications were discovered and repeatedly treated, some requiring surgery, Elbern’s surgeon advised him that the complications he suffered that were connected with C-QUR indicated that the mesh needed to be removed.

However, the surgeon also noted that while surgery was necessary to prevent further complications, the hernia mesh removal surgery itself could be very dangerous.

At this point, several years after the initial hernia mesh implantation, Elbern was experiencing chronic pain daily due to these complications, and was advised to seek pain management treatment.

Elbern claims that the patient’s hernia mesh complications are ongoing, as well as his treatment.

The hernia mesh removal surgery lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including defective manufacture, defective design, failure to warn, negligence, reckless and wanton conduct, fraudulent concealment and punitive damages.

Hernia Mesh Side Effects

The growing list of hernia mesh failure symptoms includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Pain
• Infection
• Hernia recurrence
• Adhesion
• Bowel obstruction
• Inflammation
• Fibrosis
• Calcification
• Thrombosis
• Mesh migration
• Mesh shrinkage/contraction

While side effects may appear shortly after the initial hernia repair surgery, patients may display hernia mesh failure symptoms of infection anywhere from weeks to months (or even years) after hernia repair.

Patients generally show infection and inflammation symptoms like pain, tenderness, swelling, fever, malaise, chills or rigors.

Hernia repair patients who show any hernia mesh failure symptoms indicating inflammation or infection should seek medical attention. However, the hernia mesh removal surgery that may be required to prevent further complications is itself a dangerous procedure.

Filing a Hernia Mesh Lawsuit

A growing number of hernia mesh failure symptoms are being reported in recent years. These symptoms can develop months or years after surgery. In many cases, patients must undergo dangerous hernia mesh removal surgery.

If you or someone you love has suffered from complications like these after undergoing hernia repair, weeks to months prior, you may be experiencing serious hernia mesh failure symptoms and should seek medical help.

The Hernia Mesh Removal Surgery Lawsuit is Case No. 1:2017-cv-00029, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.