Helping Victims in the Hernia Mesh Lawsuit

Treatment typically involves surgery to reposition the protruding organ or tissue, and synthetic mesh is commonly used to strengthen the area where the hernia occurred. However, many patients have experienced troubling post-surgical complications that may have been caused by the defective design of the patch, leading many to file claims in the hernia mesh lawsuit. If you have experienced difficulties after having a hernia repaired using surgical mesh, please contact our legal team for a complimentary case evaluation. You may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries.

Complications from Hernia Mesh

There have been numerous complaints about different hernia mesh products made by different manufacturers. Two of the more common complications are infections and additional surgeries needed to repair or remove a failing mesh product.

Foreign Body Response and Rejection

Our immune systems respond to certain cells, bacteria, and foreign objects by recognizing that they are not part of our bodies. Implantable medical devices are commonly made from biocompatible materials that will not cause a foreign body response. However, with many hernia mesh products, we have seen a high rate of rejection related to the device.

Organ Perforation

If the hernia mesh was implanted and placed in such a way that it could come into contact with organs or surrounding tissue, it can cause the formation of a hole or perforation. This complication occurs frequently in the intestines of patients who have had hernia mesh surgery.

Bowel Obstruction

There have been numerous complaints about specific products causing bowel obstructions after being placed in patients. A study published in the British Journal of Surgery found that the coating on the Atrium C-Qur™ mesh product prevented adhesion to the bowel for the first seven days following the placement procedure, but that it began to degrade after that. The researchers concluded that the coatings on these products may have contributed to an increased number of adhesions, resulting in more cases of obstructed bowels.

Chronic Pain and Rash

Many patients experienced a high rate of intense pain after having hernia mesh implanted. Additionally, many patients suffered a rash covering their abdomen following the placement procedure. These conditions continued until the mesh product was surgically removed.

Additional Complications

There have also been reports of less common complications in hernia mesh patients, including:

• Neurological changes
• Dental problems
• Abnormal liver function

Hernia Mesh Products

Claims filed in the hernia mesh lawsuit have already named several products produced by different companies.

Atrium C-Qur™

The Atrium C-Qur™ mesh gained approval in March 2006 through the 510K fast-track approval program. This program exists to allow products, considered similar to previously approved products, to gain approval without the rigorous testing that is typically required. This device, manufactured by Atrium Medical, is a polypropylene mesh that is coated with a gel made from triglycerides and omega-3 fatty acids.

If you have been injured by a defective medical device, Speak with an Attorney

The C-Qur™ line has many products, including:

• C-Qur™
• C-Qur Edge™
• C-Qur V-Patch™
• C-Qur™ Tacshield
• C-Qur™ FX
• C-Qur CentriFX™
• C-Qur Mosaic™
• C-Qur™ Film

In October 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to Atrium Medical concerning their C-Qur™ mesh and other products. The letter indicated that the company had not been addressing serious complaints about infections that were caused by their products, and that they appeared to be ignoring sterility complaints, including at least 35 separate incidences of human hair being found in the devices. In August 2009, the FDA announced a class 2 recall of the C-Qur™ Edge mesh product because the gel coating could adhere to the inner packaging in high humidity.

Ethicon Physiomesh®

Ethicon developed a product called Physiomesh® in 2010. Ethicon was also able to gain premarket approval through the FDA’s 510K fast-track program. The Physiomesh® line included a number of different products that were marketed as safe and effective for use in hernia repair and other fascial deficiencies. However, it now appears that the products suffered from a design or manufacturing defect that caused them to pose an unreasonable risk of danger for patients.

In May 2016, after analyzing data that was collected around the world, a recall was issued in several countries, and the action was classified as a complete market withdrawal in the United States. According to the data that was studied, rates of hernia recurrence or secondary operations were noticeably higher with Ethicon Physiomesh® than with other mesh products.

Products implicated in this recall included:

• Ethicon Physiomesh® Flexible Composite Mesh PHY0715R – Rectangle 7.5cm x 15cm
• Ethicon Physiomesh® Flexible Composite Mesh PHY1015V – Oval 10cm x 15cm
• Ethicon Physiomesh® Flexible Composite Mesh PHY1515Q – Square 15cm x 15cm
• Ethicon Physiomesh® Flexible Composite Mesh PHY1520R – Rectangle 15cm x 20cm
• Ethicon Physiomesh® Flexible Composite Mesh PHY1520V – Oval 15cm x 20cm
• Ethicon Physiomesh® Flexible Composite Mesh PHY2025V – Oval 20cm x 25cm
• Ethicon Physiomesh® Flexible Composite Mesh PHY2030R – Rectangle 20cm x 30cm
• Ethicon Physiomesh® Flexible Composite Mesh PHY2535V – Oval 25cm x 35cm
• Ethicon Physiomesh® Flexible Composite Mesh PHY3035R – Rectangle 30cm x 35cm
• Ethicon Physiomesh® Flexible Composite Mesh PHY3050R – Rectangle 30cm x 50cm®

Claims in the Hernia Mesh Lawsuit

There have already been a small number of claims filed in state and federal court concerning defective hernia mesh products. Legal analysts expect hundreds, if not thousands, of new claims to be brought over the next few months.

Individual hernia mesh lawsuits are expected to be consolidated under multidistrict litigation. This process is similar to class actions in that it combines similar case types before one judge, but differs in that it allows each plaintiff to retain their own legal counsel and make their own decisions regarding settlement amounts.

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation

If you or a loved one has experienced complications after having a hernia surgically repaired with a defective mesh device, please contact an experienced attorney for a complimentary case evaluation. You may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries.