Hernia Mesh Complications [2024 Update]

Surgical mesh is a common treatment for repairing hernias, but people can experience a range of complications from hernia mesh. People who have mesh implanted for hernia repair may develop dangerous infections, have their organs adhere together, or experience a blockage or tear in their intestine or bowel. 

Thousands of consumers have filed lawsuits against medical device manufacturers because of complications due to hernia mesh products. Many consumers believe companies—including Ethicon, Bard, Atrium, and Covidien—knew or had reason to know that their mesh products were dangerous. However, patients allege these companies failed to warn consumers about the severe and life-threatening risks of hernia mesh.

About Hernia Mesh Complications:

About Hernia Mesh Complications

Hernia mesh complications can occur immediately after surgery or develop over time. When doctors use surgical mesh to repair hernias, post-surgical complications can arise.

Hernias occur when part of an organ protrudes through the muscle wall. When this happens, a surgeon can repair the hernia by putting the organ back through the muscle wall and patching the hole. Doctors use hernia mesh to create a barrier to keep tissue from spilling out between a hole in muscle or other tissue.

Some common hernia mesh complications after surgery include pain where the doctors put the stitches, swelling or fluid buildup, infections, or the hernia returning later. 

Less common complications include dangerous infections and the hernia mesh moving to another location (migration), tearing a hole in an organ (perforation), or gluing organs together (adhesion). Although some of these complications are not as likely as others, they can be severe or life-threatening. 

Complications Associated With Hernia Mesh 

Complications and side effects of hernia mesh repair surgery include the following:

• Pain where the doctors opened the patient up
• Intestinal blockages (e.g., from the mesh moving out of place and blocking an organ)
• Infections
• Tears or holes in the person’s stomach, intestines, or other tissue 
• Fluid gathering or building around the stitches or mesh

Anyone can experience complications from a hernia mesh surgery, but some factors can increase someone’s risk. These factors include being overweight, having a history of hernias coming back, being a smoker, having other medical conditions, and having diabetes. 

Major Complications Associated With Hernia Mesh

Hernia mesh complications can be severe and, in some cases, life-threatening. Here are some of the severe side effects of a hernia mesh surgery:

• Mesh migration: In an estimated 2.7 percent of cases of abdominal hernia repair, the mesh may detach from where doctors put it originally. The mesh may also move because of inflammation or other causes. 
• Mesh erosion: The hernia mesh can break down and erode, which may lead to it moving elsewhere and causing additional injuries. 

Many medical studies have evaluated the outcomes of people whose doctors use mesh to repair their hernias. Those studies have identified a number of complications.

Study Overview: Major mesh-related complications following hernia repair: events reported to the Food and Drug Administration

The FDA has a system where patients and doctors can report adverse events from drugs or medical devices. That system is called FAERS (FDA Adverse Event Reporting System). Medical professionals often study that data to project possible complications for patients. One of those studies was called, “Major mesh-related complications following hernia repair: events reported to the Food and Drug Administration.” The study’s authors looked at how often people experienced hernia mesh complications. In that study of 252 adverse hernia mesh repair events reported to the FDA, the most common complications were infections (46 percent), mechanical failure (18 percent), and pain (9 percent). Researchers believe each mesh type increases the risk of a particular complication. 

Why Does Hernia Mesh Fail?

Many different factors can cause hernia mesh to fail. For example, the placement of the mesh and inflammation can cause the mesh to erode or migrate (unintentionally move). 

How the manufacturers design the hernia mesh can also increase the risk of complications. For example, lightweight meshes may have fewer chances of causing pain, but they may increase someone’s risk of getting an infection or having the mesh cause other body parts—e.g., blood vessels or organs—to stick together. Other mesh products can shrink over time, break, be rejected by the patient, or move.

Symptoms of Hernia Mesh Complications

The symptoms of hernia mesh complications can include fever, infections, inflammation, and blockage in the intestines or bowels. Other complications can cause nerve damage or difficulties with sexual function or urination. 

Patients can also experience pain in various areas of the body. Their discomfort may be at the site of the repair or, if the mesh moves, at a different location. Patients who experience complications from hernia mesh repair may qualify to file a lawsuit against those who made or put in the mesh.

How Often Do People Experience Hernia Mesh Complications?

In 2018, researchers in England  studied data from 570,000 people who had hernias repaired with surgical mesh. In a six-year period, they estimated that between 68,000 and 170,000 hernia mesh repair patients may have experienced complications. Another study of over 6,000 hernia mesh repairs at a single hospital in a ten-year period suggested that the type of mesh used impacted the likelihood and type of complications. Adverse events can appear early on for some patients, while others patients may not experience negative consequences for months or years after the procedure.

How Doctors Treat Complications Caused By Hernia Mesh

Doctors treat hernia mesh complications depending on the issues the patient is experiencing. For example, they may remove the mesh if it is breaking apart or has moved and could injure other body parts. When left untreated, some complications can cause severe damage to someone’s organs, sexual function, or nerves.  

Hernia Mesh Removal Complications

Removing the hernia mesh may be necessary if the patient is experiencing infections, long-term pain, or discomfort. Similarly, the mesh may need to be removed if it moves or sticks to an organ. Complications that can come up during the mesh removal procedure include nerve damage, organ or blood vessel injury, or unforeseen adhesions to organs or tissue. Additionally, once the mesh is removed, the hernia may come back because of the lack of structure holding the tissue together. 

Outcomes for People Who Experience Hernia Mesh Complications

People who suffer from complications with their hernia mesh may benefit from having the mesh removed. They may not experience the pain and discomfort of having the problematic mesh in place. That said, their hernia may return, their tissue may stick together during the healing process, or they may experience additional complications.

What Types of Hernia Mesh Have Complications?

While some risk factors may increase the chance that someone suffers through hernia mesh complications, anyone can experience complications. Many major hernia mesh manufacturers—like Bard, Covidien, Atrium, and Ethicon—all have lawsuits pending against them. Consumers believe there is a harmful defect in how these companies made, used, installed, or designed the hernia mesh products. 

Covidien Hernia Mesh

Covidien—part of Medtronic—makes a range of mesh products, such as Versatex, Transorb, and Dextile. These mesh products failed many consumers, causing tears, infections, and other severe and fatal complications. Because so many people sued, people combined the nearly two thousand individual lawsuits into MDL 3029, In Re: Covidien Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation No. II. More consumers continue to join in the MDL as they file new cases. 

Bard Hernia Mesh

In MDL 2846, IN RE: Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation, there are more than 24,000 lawsuits pending against Bard—part of Beckton, Dickinson and Company. Consumers claim that Bard’s hernia mesh products harmed them or killed their loved ones. Complications from Bard hernia products include dangerous infections, organ adhesions, organ tears, and other complications. In recent months, Bard entered a settlement agreement to resolve some hernia mesh cases. However, more are still pending, and consumers can join in the litigation by filing their own cases. 

Atrium Hernia Mesh

There are more than 600 cases pending against Atrium Medical Corporation—associated with Maquet, Getinge Group—for the harm their hernia mesh products caused consumers. Since so many people filed individual lawsuits against Atrium, these cases—which totaled 3,574—were combined to form one large lawsuit called MDL 2753, IN RE: Atrium Medical Corp. C-Qur Mesh Products Liability Litigation. Recently, the Judge for the Atrium hernia mesh complications MDL approved a settlement agreement to resolve some but not all of the lawsuits. Consumers who believe they have a case can still file one and join this litigation.

Ethicon Hernia Mesh

Thousands of consumers experienced hernia mesh complications from products manufactured by Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson company. These consumers joined forces in MDL 2782, creating one massive multidistrict litigation called IN RE: Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation. Since the case began, more than 4,000 lawsuits have been filed against Ethicon and transferred into the multidistrict lawsuit.

How Mesh Is Used to Repair Hernias

A hernia is when your insides—like your intestines—push through a hole or weak spot in your tissue—e.g., muscles. Doctors use hernia mesh to support weak or damaged tissue—like muscles or organs. The goal is to create a barrier so your insides cannot push through the hole again, and your body can begin to heal. Surgical mesh is a standard treatment option for people who need surgery to fix their hernias. 

Mesh Repair for Inguinal Hernias

An inguinal hernia is when your intestines slip out of a hole in your inguinal canal, which is part of your lower abdomen—e.g., your stomach and groin area. About 25 percent of men and less than 2 percent of women will experience an inguinal hernia throughout their lives. Hernia mesh reinforces the weakened abdomen area to decrease the chance that the intestines will spill out of the tissue again. 

Mesh Repair for Ventral Hernias

There are a couple of different types of ventral hernias:

• Umbilical hernia: A bulge at the belly button. About 15 to 23 percent of babies born in the United States have umbilical hernias. Adults may also develop umbilical hernias, especially if they are overweight or have multiple pregnancies. 
• Incisional hernia: A bulge at the site of a previous abdominal incision (cut during surgery). One study estimates that 15 to 20 percent of people develop incisional hernias after abdominal surgery. 
• Epigastric hernia: A bulge in the middle of the stomach, between the belly button and the breastbone. Studies show that men are two to three times more likely to get an epigastric hernia than women.
• Parastomal hernia: A bulge at the site of a colostomy, ileostomy, or other stoma. Stomas are holes your medical team puts in your body to remove waste. In a study of 90 patients who had a stoma installed, researchers discovered that about 33 percent of them developed a parastomal hernia. 
• Spigelian hernia: A bulge in the lower parts of the stomach, usually at or below the level of the belly button. This rare type of hernia makes up about 0.12 to 2 percent of all abdominal hernias. 

Doctors may use hernia mesh to close up a gap in tissue—such as muscle—and prevent other tissue from spilling through the hole.

Complications Lead to Hernia Mesh Recalls

Because so many people experienced complications, manufacturers recalled 211,000 units of hernia mesh products from 2005 to 2019. For example, in 2014, Ethicon recalled 223 units of its Proceed Surgical Mesh. In 2005, Ethicon recalled 18,270 units of a prior version of the Proceed Surgical Mesh because the different layers risked breaking apart or causing bowel issues. 

Consumers can reference the FDA medical device recalls database to see if their hernia mesh product is part of a past or current recall. Consumers who experience complications—such as an infection, organ tear, or bowel blockage—may be eligible to file a claim against the manufacturer. People can file a lawsuit even if their hernia mesh product is not part of a recall.

Why People Are Filing Lawsuits for Hernia Mesh Complications

People are filing legal cases against Bard, Covidien, Ethicon, Atrium, and others because they believe their hernia mesh products harmed them. Some consumers blame the hernia mesh’s design—such as the materials or size—for serious infections, bowel obstructions, organ tears, and other complications they experienced.

Contact a Lawyer About Hernia Mesh Complications

If you experienced hernia mesh complications or your loved one died because of issues with their mesh product, reach out to a lawyer who is experienced in medical device litigation to discuss your options. You may qualify to request a settlement from the manufacturers who made the hernia mesh. 

Our attorneys have spent years fighting against Bard, Covidien, Ethicon, Atrium, and other major players in the medical and pharmaceutical space. We have a wealth of knowledge, battle-tested training, and resources to develop a strong case in your favor. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation to discuss your legal concerns and how we might be able to help you.

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