Hernia Mesh Surgery Complications

If you have had a hernia, you know that the most common treatment for it is surgery. And while most hernia repair surgeries are routine, it is important to be alert to any short or long-term hernia mesh complications that may occur.

Once the hernia has begun to bulge or cause pain, it cannot be ignored. Hernias will not go away without treatment, and may in fact enlarge. They may also develop into more serious conditions if the herniated organ becomes trapped in the opening of the abdominal wall.

Doctors will typically perform a surgery called a hernioplasty, where they use either an open incision technique or laser surgery to examine the area and add a material such as a mesh patch to bolster the weakened spot.

After the surgery, patients can expect to feel some swelling and pain at the site of the incision. Depending on their surgery and situation, they may be encouraged to begin to move about as early as possible to aid the digestive process.

Even routine surgeries carry some risk, and the most likely problems that could occur after a hernia surgery would be an infection, an intestinal injury that occurs during the surgery, or a reaction to the anesthesia.

Some patients whose hernias were repaired using the Kugel Mesh hernia patch experienced a different kind of problem. The patches, which were used in surgeries in the last five to eight years, were constructed of two mesh patches, joined by a hard plastic ring. The ring served as a spring, keeping the patch in place against the abdominal wall.

Unfortunately, the ring sometimes broke, and its sharp edge could puncture internal organs, causing bowel perforations. Those injuries could also lead to a problem called fistulas, where an abnormal passageway is formed between organs, often as a result of infection.

Although a hernia mesh recall was announced, and the defective version is no longer used in surgery. But prior to the recall, the patch was used in 80,000 patients. Doctors and the FDA suggest that patients who currently have the patch allow it to remain in place unless it causes any problems.

Patients who have the Kugel patch, or who have had hernia repair surgery should contact their doctor if they experience increasing pain, a high fever, nausea, dehydration or extreme abdominal pain. These may be symptoms of dangerous infections. Currently, some patients have filed a hernia mesh lawsuit looking for help in compensation for unpaid medical bills and

If you have had a hernia repair with the Kugel patch, you may have questions about the current hernia mesh lawsuit. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn about your legal options.

About the Author:

Mark Roberts is the author of this article on Kugel mesh lawsuit. Find more information about Kugel mesh settlement here.