Hernia mesh, a surgical implant used to strengthen the area around a hernia, has been linked to a number of potential complications. These complications vary depending on the kind of mesh, the hernia, and your specific condition, but common problems can include:
- Pain
- Infection
- Scar-like tissue
- Intestinal blockage
- Bleeding
- Fluid build-up
- Organ perforation
- Mesh migration
- Mesh shrinkage
- Hernia recurrence
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), by the year 2000, 90% of hernia repairs involved surgical mesh. In other words, if you undergo hernia surgery, you are likely to receive a mesh implant as a part of the repair. Therefore, mesh usage is fairly routine, meaning when something goes wrong, it’s possible negligence was the cause.
Pain and Scar-Like Tissue
These may sound like typical consequences of surgery. In many cases, that’s true. However, the pain associated with hernia mesh could be intense or chronic. Moreover, depending on your situation, your pain could be a sign of a larger problem.
If you’ve experienced pain for a long time, even years after your procedure, you might decide to seek both medical and legal help. You could determine what complication you’ve suffered and how you may be able to seek compensation for that pain and related medical expenses.
Adhesions
Any abdominal surgery is likely to cause scar-like tissue called adhesions. In fact, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reports that nine out of ten people who undergo abdominal surgery will experience adhesions. Some hernia patients never experience complications from their mesh.
However, adhesions sometimes live up to their name and adhere to parts of the body that should operate without impediment. Following hernia surgeries, if there was negligence related to the mesh, adhesions can form.
These can lead to serious health issues, such as when:
- Tissue connects the intestines together
- Adhesions connect to organs
- Tissue attaches to the abdominal wall
- Intestines are pulled out of place
- Intestines are blocked by adhesions
Symptoms can include pain and a variety of digestive issues, such as constipation, nausea, or bloating. If you experience any of these after your hernia operation and suspect your surgical mesh led to intestinal adhesion, contact your doctor immediately.
More About Intestinal Complications Due to Hernia Mesh
Adhesions are one cause of intestinal obstruction linked to hernia mesh, but not the only possible cause. Also called bowel or intestinal blockage, obstructions occur when something blocks the small or large intestine, leading to pain, infection, and even organ death.
Bowel blockages can be caused by:
- Adhesions
- Migrated hernia mesh
- Hernia recurrence
If a doctor made an error in implanting the mesh, adhesions can form and block the intestinal tract. Likewise, the mesh itself may move from its original position, causing a blockage. If the mesh fails and your hernia recurs, the hernia could also result in an obstruction.
You’ll notice all of these scenarios are already possible complications on their own, which means intestinal blockage can be an additional complication.
Organ Perforation
The FDA acknowledges that a common hernia mesh complication is organ perforation, the medical term for when an organ develops a hole or tear. The reason for perforation could be that the mesh was improperly implanted, causing it to perforate a nearby organ, and/or the mesh migrated, producing the same result. Defective mesh may also be a culprit for organ perforation following a hernia operation.
Peritonitis and Other Infections
Perforation can cause a specific infection called peritonitis, an inflammation of the lining of the abdominal wall. According to Mayo Clinic, without treatment, peritonitis can be life-threatening.
Other infections can be a complication of hernia mesh operations and can arise from:
- Intestinal blockages
- Surgical errors
- Contaminated equipment
- Defective mesh
When Bad Products Are the Culprit
FDA notes that many hernia mesh complications have resulted from faulty, recalled, and/or black market products. Pain, infection, adhesion, obstruction, and perforation are all listed as possible risks associated with recalled mesh.
If you experienced any of these complications following your hernia surgery and suspect defective hernia mesh was to blame, you may be eligible for compensation through legal action. Healthcare providers have an obligation to uphold your safety and exercise reasonable care, which includes their use of safe medical devices.
Likewise, manufacturers and sellers have a duty to mitigate risks posed by their products. Contact an attorney to learn more if you were the victim of defective hernia mesh.
Your Hernia Mesh Surgery Experience Is Not Routine
Hernia surgery, like all forms of healthcare, is designed to make you feel better by repairing an injury. When that surgery and the devices used contribute to pain, complications, and further injury, you may have grounds for a legal claim. If you have questions about what complications are linked to hernia mesh or suffered from a known complication, call in the Strong Arm.
The team at Loncar Lyon Jenkins wants to hear from you: (877) 239-4878.
