Hernia Mesh Lawsuit Information

If you have been diagnosed with a ventral hernia, you may have been told about two different types of surgery.

A hernia is a protrusion of an organ—usually the intestine or bowel-- that creates a hole and goes through a wall that contains it. In the abdomen, for example, the intestine can create a bulge and go through the abdominal wall. This hernia can be extremely painful, especially when straining or lifting. In addition, it can be dangerous if untreated. The organ that goes through the wall can encounter bacteria that develop into an infection. Also, if the organ becomes stuck in the hole that is created, blood supply can be cut off, requiring emergency surgery.

Ventral hernias often occur at the incision sites of previous surgeries. If you had a previous abdominal surgery, for instance, that area may have weaker muscle or tissue on the abdominal wall, making it less able to withstand the stress of an organ pushing against it.

Doctors typically recommend one of two types of surgeries (also called hernioplasty) to repair hernias: open and laparoscopic.

In an open hernia repair surgery, a long incision is made in the abdominal area. The organ is repositioned and the area is strengthened with a mesh patch that is attached to the weak wall area.

A laparoscopic surgery uses smaller incisions in the abdomen. The abdomen is inflated with air and a laparoscope is inserted into the incision so the doctor can see how to repair the area. This surgery also uses a mesh patch to bolster the weak area.

Many studies indicate that patients have a quicker recovery following a laparoscopic surgery, however, an open hernia repair surgery may be recommended especially if the intestine or bowel is constricted in the abdominal wall.

While hernia repair surgery is considered safe, some patients have had complications following the use of a certain mesh patch, resulting in a hernia mesh recall. The Kugel mesh patch, which was used in the last five to eight years, was made of two pieces of mesh, connected by a plastic ring. Doctors found that the ring could break, and the sharp edges of the ring could puncture internal organs, causing bowel perforations and infections leading to chronic fistulas.

Although the mesh patch has been recalled and a new design has been made, patients who have the original patch must be alert to any signs of puncture or perforation. The Kugel mesh recall only applied to certain lots of hernia repair patches where there was a problem with the memory recoil ring.

If you are having surgery to repair a previous hernia, ask your doctor if you had the original Kugel mesh patch. If so, talk with him or her about the hernia mesh recall. Then, talk with an attorney to find out if you are eligible for legal compensation including filing a hernia mesh lawsuit.

About the Author:

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