A growing number of patients treated for inguinal hernia repair and had the Bard Perfix Plug hernia mesh device implanted are experiencing a variety of medical issues ranging from debilitating pain in the abdomen or groin area, nausea, vomiting, organ failure, and bowel obstruction to name a few. Bard boasts that 5,000,000 have been implanted worldwide in spite of the device’s faulty design.
While it is not always easy to determine on one’s own, there are tell-tale signs that your hernia mesh device has failed and is causing complications. Here are some of the most common:
Pain-if you’re experiencing pain in the lower abdomen or groin area after hernia repair surgery, you need to seek medical attention. In some cases, tenderness and pain may be the only indicator of hernia mesh complications.
Bleeding & Infection-infections are an indication of a failed hernia mesh. Redness or heat emanating from the area of the mesh are indicators that there is something wrong. Sometimes, fluid will build around the area of the failed mesh device as well. These are signs to seek medical attention immediately.
Bowel Obstruction-an inability to pass human waste and/or bloating may be indicators of a bowel obstruction and a hernia mesh issue.
Erectile Dysfunction-in some instances, hernia mesh failure may cause erectile dysfunction and an inability to become aroused. Research published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information shows hernia mesh complications may reduce blood supply to the testicles, which may have to result in testicular removal.
Hernia Recurrence-a hernia that re-occurs may indicate mesh failure. A variety of hernia mesh complications, such as migration, adhesion, fistula and perforation, may lead to recurrence.
When the Bard Perfix Plug hernia mesh fails it may require revision surgery to remove the failed mesh. However, such surgery is often complicated by the fact that the mesh, composed of plastic, may have migrated or become enmeshed in other organs. The woven design of the PerFix Plug creates small pores (holes) throughout the mesh. Nerves grow into these pores and attach to the mesh soon after implant. As the mesh erodes and moves through the inguinal canal, it pulls and stretches the nerves attached to it. The nerves stretching is what’s causing debilitating pain. Additionally, pain caused from nerves stretching is essentially unable to be treatable. Opioids are not effective at treating nerve pain. Further exacerbating the problem is the mesh’s tendency to erode making it far more difficult to remove without damaging or removing other organs.
The design of the Bard Perfix Plug is at the core of the problem. Unfortunately, the device was never properly tested because it was approved based on the fact that it is supposedly similarly designed as previously approved hernia mesh devices. If it had been tested properly, the plastic composition of the mesh would have failed in the testing phase and countless patients would have been spared the agony of hernia mesh failure.
Our firm has already filed a number of hernia mesh lawsuits throughout the country. We have extensive hernia, pelvic organ prolapse, and stress urinary incontinence mesh litigation and settlement experience against a number of medical device manufacturers. If you or someone you know has suffered due to Bard Perfix Plug Inguinal Hernia Mesh, the experienced medical device attorneys at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP are here to protect your rights.
Contact us today at (212) 684-1880 to speak with a knowledgeable New York product liability lawyer.
