How Do I Know If My Hernia Mesh Failed?

You may know if your hernia mesh failed if you suffer symptoms like pain in the surgical site. If you experience pain in the area where your doctor repaired your hernia, especially if combined with swelling and a noticeable bulge, you should let your doctor know your hernia mesh repair likely failed. Hernia mesh failure can happen for several reasons, but all of them can result in a recurrence of the hernia and require revision surgery.

Hernia Mesh Patches Can Fail in Several Ways

The primary advantage of a hernia repair using an implantable mesh patch over a traditional repair that pulls the tissue back together and stitches it closed is that the mesh patch reduces the risk of a recurrence. However, mesh patches come with a much greater risk of complications, and many of these complications can lead to patch failure. When a hernia mesh patch fails, the hernia often recurs.

Most hernia mesh patches are either self-adhesive, or the surgeon will stitch them in place. As long as the patch remains stable and the remains tacked in place, it should continue to cover the hernia and keep the intestines where they belong. Several things can go wrong and cause a patch failure, though. This includes:

Mesh migration, when the patch comes loose and goes elsewhere in the abdomen
Mesh shrinkage, when the patch draws up and no longer covers the entire opening
Mesh erosion, when the patch begins to break down
Mesh rupture, when the patch tears or rips creating a new opening

Your doctor may feel certain your hernia mesh failed and your hernia recurred without knowing which of these complications occurred. If you experience any symptoms of hernia mesh failure, they may want to order a computed tomography (CT) scan or other medical imaging to try to identify the problem, or they may opt to schedule surgery without this step.

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Treating a Hernia Mesh Failure and Repairing the Hernia Recurrence

When a hernia recurs, especially when it happens because of mesh failure, revision surgery is often the go-to option. Doctors usually cannot perform this type of surgery laparoscopically, so it will likely be more invasive than your original repair procedure. Recovery can take several weeks, and you may miss work and experience significant pain.

In addition to repairing your hernia, they will need to remove the failed patch if possible. Safely removing a hernia mesh patch is often difficult. The mesh can embed in your tissues or organs, making safe removal impossible in some cases.

You Could Also Suffer Symptoms of Other Types of Hernia Mesh Complications

In addition to the ways a mesh patch can fail and allow the hernia to recur, patients and doctors report other complications related to implanted surgical mesh patches. These complications include:

Chronic abdominal pain
Infection, fever, chills, body aches, and other related symptoms
Adhesion to other tissues or organs
Bowel perforation
Bowel obstruction
Fistulae

Any of these symptoms, if severe, could also call for revision surgery and attempted removal of the patch.

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Let Zanes Law Fight for the Compensation You Deserve

As of May 2019, multidistrict litigation (MDL) is pending against several hernia mesh manufacturers. We may be able to help you join this ongoing mass tort, join another, or take other legal action on your behalf. We believe these medical devices are dangerous, and many are defective. The manufacturers have a duty to only market safe medical devices, and they are responsible for the injuries you suffered.

If you underwent revision surgery or you suffer chronic pain because of failed hernia mesh or another complication, we can build a strong case and pursue legal action to hold the manufacturer of your mesh patch liable. We will review your case for free and take your case on a contingency basis. We will pursue damages for you that include:

Medical care costs
Future care costs
Lost wages
Related out-of-pocket expenses
Pain and suffering
Punitive damages

Let our team of attorneys start work on your case today. We can get the necessary information about your patch from your medical records and go after the company who is responsible for your symptoms and suffering.

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Talk to a Member of the Zanes Law Team Today

At Zanes Law, our team can go to work on your case immediately. We make it easy for you to sign up over the phone or in person, even handling your signup and consultation in a single phone call. Our hernia mesh lawsuit lawyers know what it takes to hold a medical device manufacturer liable, and we will fight for the compensation you deserve.

Call Zanes Law today at 866-499-8989 to get started with your free case evaluation.

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