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Symptoms and Complications of Hernia Mesh Failure

Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

No surgical procedure is entirely without risk, and when hernia mesh implants are placed into the body, complications can occur. These complications can be caused by many issues, but especially by poor implant design. Many patients, as a result, are fighting back and suing hernia mesh manufacturers for the suffering the manufacturers’ products have caused them. If you believe that the hernia mesh failure you experienced may have been due to faulty design or some other mesh manufacturing issue, consider scheduling a consultation with an experienced hernia mesh lawyer like registered nurse and trial lawyer, Eileen Kroll who is already familiar with these suits and can help you get the justice and compensation that you deserve.

What is a hernia?

A hernia can occur when an organ or an amount of fatty tissue squeezes through weak spots in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue.

The most common forms of hernias are inguinal (in the inner groin), incisional (due to a surgical incision), umbilical (around the belly button), femoral (in the outer groin), and hiatal (in the upper stomach).

Most hernias are not immediately life-threatening, but they do not go away on their own, and sometimes can require surgery to prevent dangerous complications. If your hernia is causing you pain or growing too large, your doctor may decide to operate on it. Repairs are typically done by surgically sewing the hole in the abdominal wall closed. Patching the hole with surgical mesh is usually how the holes are closed.

Symptoms of hernia mesh failure

Mesh implants can fail in a number of different ways, and different kinds of failures can bring their own set of symptoms. Some of these symptoms can be vague, so it is essential that patients who are recovering from a hernia repair surgery check in with a medical professional any time they feel discomfort, pain, or sustained illness after their procedure.

Mesh migration and mesh rejection

Two concerning hernia mesh failure issues relate to mesh migration and mesh rejection. When hernia mesh migrates, the implant starts to physically erode in the body, which allows pieces of the mesh to break away and migrate to other places, including major organs.

When hernia mesh rejection occurs, the body’s immune system recognizes the mesh as foreign and begins to react to it negatively, which causes large amounts of discomfort and illness.

If you start to experience symptoms on the following list, then you may be experiencing hernia mesh migration or mesh rejection. Rejection will normally occur relatively soon after the surgery took place, but migration can occur up to years after the surgery.

  • Local or generalized pain
  • Blood in urine
  • Major bleeding
  • Fistula formation
  • Chills, a fever, or other flu-like symptoms

Other symptoms of mesh failure

Other complications caused by the use of hernia mesh can be adhesions, bowel obstructions, and infections. These can be caused by either surgical negligence or by problems with the mesh product itself.

These symptoms may suggest another hernia mesh failure issue:

  • Tenderness or pain in the abdomen
  • Distension or bloating
  • Cramping
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased heat, swelling, or redness in the implantation area
  • Malaise or fatigue

If you are experiencing these symptoms, call your doctor and ask for their help in determining the problem.

Hernia mesh complications

Adhesions, bowel obstructions, and infections are dangerous complications that can occur due to problems with hernia mesh.

In the case of adhesion, this complication occurs when scar tissue is not completely healed and removed by the body. In dire cases, organs can grow together and stop properly functioning.

When bowel obstruction happens, scar tissue can build up and obstruct the intestinal tract, making passing stool impossible.

Bacterial or viral infection occurs in up to 8 percent of surgical patients. Antibiotics can be helpful in this situation, but more severe infections can require surgery to remove them.

How to tell if your hernia mesh has failed

If a hernia mesh surgery fails the hernia itself could return. This is referred to as recurrence in the medical community. Mesh migration can result in the hernia’s return since the mesh is no longer supporting the affected tissue.

Final thoughts

If you have been injured due to a malfunctioning hernia mesh, contact Cochran, Kroll & Associates P.C. at 866-MICH-LAW to speak with a qualified lawyer experienced in helping people recover damages from hernia mesh complications. Your consultation at our law firm is free, and we never charge a fee unless we win your case.

Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.

Tim is a writer and editor who earned his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Maryland and calls Washington, D.C., home after spending most of his adult life in the country's capital. Although Tim spent most of his post-college years in the restaurant industry, he became interested in writing about legal matters after he recently moved to Colombia. Today, Tim writes professionally about medical malpractice, drug policies, and workplace injuries. Tim is focused on curating his freelancing career and plans to work remotely for as long he can.

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