Is Hernia Mesh Repair Safe?

What is a Hernia?

A hernia occurs when a weak spot in the muscle of connective tissue allows an organ, intestine, or fatty tissue to squeeze through. When a hernia occurs at the abdominal wall, it’s often visible as a bulge in the abdomen.

Healthline notes that while the most common location for a hernia is the abdomen, it can also occur in the upper thigh, belly button, and in the groin area.  

What is Hernia Mesh?

A hernia mesh is a medical device made of plastic or metal that’s surgically implanted to provide structure and support to weak muscle or connective tissue.

In some cases, hernia mesh repair is intended as a permanent implant, and in other cases, it’s designed to be absorbed into the body, only providing short term support and then degrading after the hernia has healed.

More than one million hernia repair surgeries are performed in the U.S. each year, and more than 90 percent involve hernia mesh. 

Is Hernia Mesh Repair Safe?

Mesh has been used to repair hernias for more than 50 years. However, hernia mesh repair comes with the risk of complications, some that are serious, and possibly deadly.

The FDA says that most cases of hernia mesh complications are associated with hernia mesh that has been recalled for design defects. 

What are Hernia Mesh Repair Complications?

Some of the most serious complications are often the most common. They can include adhesion of the mesh to the body; migration of the mesh, which can cause bowel obstruction or perforation. If a patient experiences perforated organs, they may develop sepsis, an infection of the bloodstream that can be fatal.

Additionally, a hernia mesh device can cause infection, or be rejected by the body.

What are the Symptoms of Hernia Mesh Bowel Obstruction?

Often, people who are experiencing a hernia mesh complication experience excessive and sometimes chronic pain.

If there’s a bowel obstruction from a hernia mesh, the patient may experience nausea, vomiting, or be unable to pass gas or stool. They also may experience abdominal rigidity. Bowel obstruction is a serious condition and requires immediate treatment.

What are the Symptoms of Hernia Mesh Infection?

Patients who have a hernia mesh infection may not experience chronic infection symptoms for years after surgery.

Symptoms of hernia mesh infection may include inflammation, fever, and flu-like symptoms.

What are Symptoms of Hernia Mesh Rejection?

In some cases, the body’s immune system may respond negatively to the hernia mesh because it is a foreign object. This is known as hernia mesh rejection. 

Symptoms of hernia mesh rejection include extreme swelling at the surgical site, tenderness or pain, redness, and flu-like symptoms.

How Can Hernia Mesh Complications be Treated?

In some cases, secondary surgery may be necessary to treat hernia mesh complications. Surgery to deal with hernia mesh complications may come with complications of its own and may cause further injury.