What Does a Botched Hernia Surgery Entail?

A botched hernia surgery involves the failure of the implanted surgical mesh that results in injuries to a patient. Complications from the failed mesh may be so severe that the patient must undergo surgery to remove the device.

If you experienced a botched hernia surgery, you may be able to pursue compensation for the injuries you suffered. The Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC can help you recover compensation for medical expenses and other costs you incurred because of the complications. Call us at 865-546-1111 for a free, no-obligation case review.

What Is Surgical Mesh?

Surgical mesh is a medical device used to support weak or damaged tissue that can no longer retain its natural function or shape. The device comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), surgical mesh is now commonly used in hernia repair surgery. The device can decrease the time of an operation and minimize a patient’s recovery time, the FDA says.

How Does Mesh Contribute to a Botched Hernia Surgery?

Mesh contributes to a botched surgery by causing serious problems for patients. Problems begin when the mesh comes loose and leaves its original place of implantation and moves to surrounding organs and tissues.

One case report cited in the International Surgery journal of July-August 2014 noted how surgical mesh used in ventral hernia repair (which is repairing a hernia in the abdominal wall) migrated to a patient’s bladder five years after implantation. The patient underwent an intricate surgery to have the device removed.

An adverse event report filed with the FDA in 2013 stated that a patient had a Covidien Parietex mesh removed that had migrated to the patient’s stomach. The mesh caused an ulcer and infection, the report said.

How Does a Botched Hernia Surgery Affect Patients?

Patients experience a variety of complications and side effects. The complications may happen shortly after the hernia repair surgery or it could take weeks, months, or years before a patient experiences problems.

Patients report having such problems as:

  • Chronic pain
  • Bleeding
  • Inflammation
  • Infection
  • Nausea
  • Hernia recurrence

Tests have shown that a failed hernia mesh can stick to surrounding organs and tissues and cause intestinal blockage.

Patients have also reported how the pain from a failed hernia mesh is so debilitating that it affects their ability to work and function each day.

What Does the FDA Say About Complications From Hernia Mesh?

The FDA analyzed adverse events reports filed by hernia mesh patients and found many problems were related to recalled hernia mesh products. The most common complications included:

  • Pain
  • Mesh adhesion
  • Hernia recurrence
  • Organ perforation
  • Bowel obstruction

Patients, however, are having complications with hernia mesh implants that are still on the market. Some patients have even filed lawsuits against medical device manufacturers over complications from their failed hernia mesh.

What Is the Remedy for a Botched Hernia Surgery?

In many cases, patients undergo revision surgery, which is another surgery to remove the failed hernia mesh. Sometimes, the failed mesh is repaired or replaced with another type of hernia mesh.  

Revision surgery can become an intricate procedure when the mesh has adhered to tissues or organs or punctured an organ or blood vessel.

Unfortunately, some patients must undergo multiple surgeries to remove the mesh. And, even after revision surgery, some patients continue to have chronic pain.

If you are experiencing complications from a hernia repair surgery or a revision surgery to remove surgical hernia mesh, you may have legal options to recover compensation for your damages. Call the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC for a free case review.

Why Does Hernia Mesh Fail?

Mesh shrinkage, breakage, and migration are among the many reasons why hernia mesh fails. The way a hernia mesh is designed or the materials it is made from may also cause it to fail.

Sometimes, reasons for mesh failure are not clear. For instance, Ethicon Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, withdrew its Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh from the global market in 2016.

Studies showed that this particular hernia mesh had high hernia recurrence and reoperation rates. Ethicon said that several factors could have contributed to the hernia mesh failure, but the company could not single out one particular problem.

Contact the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC

We represent people nationwide who have suffered complications and side effects after a hernia repair surgery that used surgical mesh.

We handle cases involving such companies as Atrium Medical Corporation, Covidien, and C. R. Bard Inc.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries from a hernia mesh implant, we can help you pursue compensation for your medical expenses, including costs for revision surgery, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Let us help you get the compensation that you deserve. Call 865-546-1111 for a free, no-obligation consultation.