It’s not unusual for hernia patients in Oklahoma to have surgical mesh inserted. While hernia mesh products have been in use since the 1950s, different materials, coatings, and other features have been used in some of the subsequent products manufactured since this time. Some of these products have been defective, which has contributed to instances of life-changing injuries.
The problem with some types of hernia mesh is that materials weren’t thoroughly tested prior to manufacturing them. If mesh of this nature is defective, an affected patient may need to undergo another procedure to remove the mesh and repair the hernia again. One product involved in lawsuits contained polyester instead of polypropylene, but the substitute material wasn’t properly tested. Another product has been associated with bowel obstruction and adhesions, and there was one with a defective base layer.
Hernia mesh products, in general, have the potential to contribute to an assortment of side effects. Minor ones could result in severe pain. Many side effects need to be addressed with corrective surgery. In addition to bowel obstructions, some of these potentially serious side effects include rejection, migration, and infection. In some instances, scar-like tissue sticks together and contributes to chronic pain and an increased risk of potentially life-threatening obstructions. In one case, a coating intended to prevent the mesh from sticking to structures its not supposed to adhere to dissolved quickly and caused it to attach itself to the patient’s intestine.
Nausea and vomiting, severe abdominal discomfort, and abdominal rigidity are among the symptoms that suggest a patient may have a hernia mesh issue. Should this be the case, a product liability attorney may determine if a product that was recalled or known to be defective was used. If there’s compelling evidence suggesting this is what happened, compensation awarded typically covers repair surgery, any permanent damage, and related pain and suffering.
