Hernia Mesh Lawsuit

Recent hernia mesh lawsuit claims has left patients who received the hernia patch wondering what the future holds for them.

The Kugel hernia patch was designed to aid weakened muscle or tissue areas of the abdominal wall. When inserted, the patch would help prevent an organ from pushing through a damaged or thin area, thus preventing serious complications.

Unfortunately, the Kugel hernia patch itself caused complications. In the design of the patch, a plastic ring connected two mesh pieces. The ring acted as a spring, keeping the patch in place.

Patients found, however, that the ring in the Kugel patch could break and the hard plastic could puncture internal organs, causing problems like bowel perforations and fistulas. In fact, 80 patients had injuries and complications—including fatalities—as a result of the ring breakage.

Patients who have the Kugel patch but are currently not experiencing any adverse symptoms are being advised by doctors and the patch manufacturer to allow the patch to remain in place. However, patients who may be having problems with the patch should contact their doctor immediately.

Signs of that the ring has created a hole in the bowel or other organ, such as the stomach, gallbladder or small intestine include stomach pain, chills or fever and nausea. Since these are also signs many other illnesses, it may be easy to assume this is a virus. However, be particularly mindful if you experience these symptoms while having the Kugel patch.

Chronic fistulas are connections that form between the bowel and other organs or the skin. They begin as inflammations that develop and go through all layers of the bowel and then extend to other organs and skin. Sometimes fistulas do not cause any symptoms, but they can also create painful abscesses that can cause an infection traveling through the blood stream.

Surgery is usually indicated for either of these complications. While Kugel has developed a new patch with an improved ring, the manufacturer is still under fire. Reports indicate that the manufacturers of the Kugel mesh may have known about problems with the device before they were reported.

An FDA report raises the question of whether the manufacturer tracked mesh problems accurately, and if it responded quickly enough to complaints.

If you have had hernia repair surgery and have, or have had, a Kugel mesh patch, you may be eligible for compensation as a result of the current litigation. Contact us an attorney to discuss your legal rights and options 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.