Friday 1 November 2019

Five Top Health Risks with Hernia Mesh Implant

A hernia mesh revision surgery (also called a hernioplasty) is a long as well as painful procedure. To treat the condition, use of surgical mesh implants have been common for decades now. Sadly, these hernia mesh repairs have been linked with unwanted side effects, some of which are even life threatening.

In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a class I recall (the most serious type) to those manufacturers who were thought to have passed on counterfeit surgical meshes in the market. The victims of such medical devices filed for hernia mesh surgery lawsuit claiming for the damage awards in terms of financial compensation.

Did you know about the different types of hernia?
  • Inguinal: inner groin
  • Femoral: outer groin
  • Umbilical: belly button
  • Incisional: resulting from an incision
  • Hiatal: upper stomach

Knowing about the complications

The patients complained about the following health issues and complications after the mesh implant. Had you been seeing any of the issues, do not delay to get in touch with your health provider.

Chronic infections

According to studies, close to 8 percent of patients are prone to some bacterial infection after the hernia mesh repair. The risk of infection is further enhanced if the victims is prey to obesity, suffers from diabetes, or has some form of immunosuppressant. Understandably, the risk is greater when the surgery is not done through laparoscopy. Further, research revealed there could be associated risks with the implant of multifilament polyester mesh, rather than knitted monofilament polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene because the former has more scope for erosion and adhesion.

Did you know that infections could take up to two weeks to 39 months to surface? The most common symptoms are pain, tenderness, skin redness (erythema), swelling, and higher abdominal wall temperature. Be very cautious if there is any intra-abdominal abscess, discharging fistula, or osteomyelitis.

 
Adhesions

Adhesions are basically the scar tissues which are formed between two surfaces in the human body as hernia mesh side effects. It is commonly seen in patients after suffering from a traumatic injury which develops as a retort to the implantation of a foreign body like hernia mesh.

Studies found about 67 to 93 percent of abdominal hernia mesh surgery patients suffered from the concerns of adhesion. Many were admitted to the hospital for complications, and one in 20 patients had to go for a secondary operation.

What makes this a bigger health issue is that this complication can be really challenging to detect.

Hernia Recurrence


While the hernia recurrence rate is definitely lower in a mesh repair compared to the exiting procedures, there are still chances. , It is more in patients who are obese, diabetic, malnourished, anaemic, smokers, jaundiced, weight lifters (or anyone who lifts heavy items soon after the surgery), or taking steroids.

Bowel Obstruction

Did you know that hernias are the second-highest cause of bowel obstructions? Unfortunately, the repair surgeries can also lead to adhesions as hernia mesh side effects which hinders the bowel movement. FDA’s analysis of medical adverse event reports showed that faulty meshes were one of the primary causes of bowel perforation as well as obstruction.

Cramping, vomiting, bloating, nausea inability to pass gas, and sudden shocks of abdominal pain are symptoms of possible bowel obstructions.

Even though the condition seems a secondary issue, it can cut off blood supply to the intestines, if left undiagnosed or untreated. The only way to treat a complicated bowel obstruction is through surgical intervention.

Mesh Migration

Composite dual polypropylene meshes are most prone to migration. Inadequate fixation of the mesh to the fascia or inflammatory reaction to the mesh for years can lead to the degeneration of the implant. There is no time limit to this but can take five to 30 years for the mesh to degenerate.  Regular ultrasound or CT technology is needed to evaluate if there is any misplacement of the device. It is a rare condition and may give rise to mass formation, acute intestinal obstruction, chronic abdominal pain, as well as bowel perforation.

Suffering complications from defective hernia mesh implant? Set up a free evaluation of your case at no upfront cost with the experts of Herniamesh.network. Visit http://herniamesh.network or dial 855-632-6117 to know about the eligibility of financial compensation.