Hernia Mesh Lawsuits
Last Updated: October 2008 • 27 Comments
Contact a Lawyer
Submit information about your potential case to be reviewed by an attorney.
The Kugel Hernia Patch and other types of hernia mesh manufactured by C.R. Bard, Inc. and their subsidiary Davol, have been associated with design defects that could cause severe and life-threatening complications after hernia surgery.
STATUS OF HERNIA PATCH LITIGATION: Over 2,000 hernia mesh lawsuits have been filed as a result of problems with the Kugel Patch mesh. The federal hernia mesh litigation has been consolidated in the United States District Court of the District of Rhode Island.
>>REVIEW A HERNIA MESH CASE WITH A LAWYER<<
MANUFACTURER: C.R. Bard, Inc., and their subsidiary Davol, Inc.
LAWSUIT OVERVIEW: Kugel Hernia Mesh Patches are sold in a variety of sizes for repair of ventral or incisional hernias, which may develop at the site of prior surgical scars.
The Kugel Patch contains a memory recoil ring around the perimeter of the mesh which allows the doctor to fold it during the hernia repair. It is designed to spring open once in place to lay flat. However, design defects may cause the plastic ring to break, resulting in serious internal injury, such as:
- Intestinal Pain
- Bowel Perforation
- Intestinal Fistula
- Additional Surgery
- Death
KUGEL HERNIA PATCH RECALL: Bard has issued three separate Kugel Patch recalls involving different sizes of their hernia mesh. The recalls were issued in December 2005, March 2006 and January 2007, involving the following mesh products:
- Bard Composix Kugel Extra Large Oval (8.7″ x 10.7″, 10.8″ x 13.7″, 7.7″ x 9.7″)
- Bard Composix Kugel Oval (6.3″ x 12.3″)
- Bard Composix Kugal Large Oval (5.4″ x 7.0″)
- Bard Composix Kugel Large Circle (4.5″)
Approximately 750,000 Kugel Hernia Mesh Patches have been implanted annually throughout the United States.
OTHER DEFECTIVE HERNIA SURGERY MESH PATCHES: In addition to the Kugel Patch, a number of hernia patch lawsuits have been filed by patients who received other types of hernia mesh manufactured by C.R. Bard and Davol.
In January 2008, the U.S. District Court Judge who is overseeing the consolidated Hernia Mesh Litigation that has been centralized in Rhode Island, issued an order expanding the scope of the multidistrict litigation (MDL), to include several other products manufactured which contain similar technology.
Some of the other types of hernia surgical mesh which have been associated with alleged injuries in lawsuits filed throughout the United States include:
- Ventralex Hernia Patch
- CK Parastomal Hernia Patch
- CruraSoft Patch
- Composix Mesh
- Composix L/P Mesh
- Composix E/X Hernia Mesh
- Other Kugel products that have not been recalled
Pingback by Kugel Hernia Patch Manufacturer Cited for Violations at Puerto Rico Plant : AboutLawsuits.com on 15 October 2008:
[...] products manufactured at their plant in Puerto Rico, which is where the company manufactures the Kugel Hernia Patch mesh that has been the subject of thousands of lawsuits in the United [...]
Comment by James on 16 October 2008:
I has had three hernia surgerys.I am constantly in pain with my stomach area.MESH or the PATCH was inserted in my stomach.I am in pain on a daily basis.
Comment by karen on 3 November 2008:
My husband had a hernia repair on the 14 of July in 06. The surgeon and hospital used Bard Composix e/x mesh. In May of 07, he had another repair. Another doctor from the same practice took pictures of the mesh from the lst surgery that had come apart and was integrated with the bowel. He cut out what he could. Now we are having problems with what they suspect is bowel obstruction.
Comment by Debora on 5 November 2008:
I had my second hernia surgery a year ago. The site of my hernia is about 4 inches from my breast to the right. A mesh/patch was inserted into small openings in my abdomen. Within weeks after the surgery the patch failed and the hernia returned to it’s original condition. A year later, I took a fall and suffered some lower back pain. A few days later, after reaching across my lap from left to right, I experienced a severe stabbing in my right side. I could barely move. I was in the emergency room for eight hours, had several xray type tests with no negative results. The diagnosis was torn muscle. Although the severe pain has subsided, I still experience severe stabbing in the area when I lay down on that side. No muscle movement causes the pain, only pressure against the kidney area. I sense the existence of something foreign in that area of my abdomen and I believe it to be the patch that came loose from my hernia area. The foreign object is 4 inches directly to the right of my hernia.
Comment by JP on 30 November 2008:
I had 4 hernias removed in 04, I became very ill, my wound wouldn’t heal, I was in bed for the year, my immune system shut down, I had to have it removed in August or else i would die, I had lost 75 pounds- not a good way to lose weight. The mesh came out in pieces and not all of it was even there. We still didn’t know it was a bad product. in April o5 I had bad pains again – I had gotten another hernia, same manufacturer but different type was inserted. I healed but still have bowel digestion issues and pain on both sides on a regular basis, I am on pain meds and alcohol- also not a good combination- I found out today that my new mesh is also on the list. This has run my life for the last 4 years. I am a single mother and cannot afford to see the specialist on a regular basis, activities are little to none and I have never gotten my strength or energy back. I found out in 2006 about the orginal mesh recall and have had an attorney in Rhode Island for over a year. I am having to file bankruptcy. I wish I new of other alternatives to this mesh. my same scar has been cut open 6 times.
Comment by Tom on 3 February 2009:
I had my first hernia surgery in the April or May of 200, which recurred and I had a second hernia repair with mesh in Dec 2007. I have had some problems with pain, but nothing that I sought medical attention for. Perhaps I should get my medical records and just see if this type patch was used to repair my hernia. It was a large repair the second time around.
Comment by Penny on 23 February 2009:
I had my first surgery performed in 1990, and Just this past jan 2009 I became extremely ill running high fever consistley and I had a pertrusion on my stomach, I lost 19 pounds in 2 weeks, went to my Dr and told her i msut have a hernia where the old mesh was, thet performed a CAT Scan and found the mesh had balled in a knot tore the lining open once again and torn the small bowel I had multiple fistulas in the stomach, Emergency surgery was performed . The body had made sterile pockets in the stomach area, but the Dr told me if any one had broken open I would not be here today to tell this, the infection was raging and once they removed the mutilpe pockets of infection, they found I not only have one infection bug but there was 3 different types of infection bugs. I am very thankful for the great Dr I had, without him acting quickley as he did, I would not be here today. Listen to your body and don’t put nothing off any more, I had many signs and didn’t have a clue as to how sick I was because the only time I hurt is when I was up and at work for several hours the pouch on my tummy would start hurting me.
Comment by John on 27 February 2009:
I had surgery about 13 years ago, to repair a hyadle hernia. I ended up with about an 8″ scar that ran from navel to just below my rib cage. 5 years ago that scar began to herniate. The whole incision was reopened and a mesh was inserted to keep it from herniating again. I immediately started to experience stabbing like pains in numerous areas of my abdomin.
Comment by dennis on 15 June 2009:
My original abdominal incisional hernial repair was in 02. 7 Years later, this past 4/09 I had flu like symptoms-body aches, fever,chills.This lasted about a week. Then the hernia site became red and inflammed. I went to Thomas Jefferson hosp in Phila. E.R. They operated that night. my temp was 104. 2 days later ther operated again because I had a perforeated bowel and they had to do a 2 inch bowel resection. 8 days in the hospital. Lost 15 pounds.
Comment by steve on 23 September 2009:
i had my first abdominal hernia 2000,i have had four sergeries sins then.i had an open wound in my side for 18 months with drainage .it became so infected i had emrgencie surgerie and almost didnt make it.i have a large mesh patch now and i have herniated again.
Comment by douglas on 15 October 2009:
i had a bi linguinal hernia and stomach hernia in 2007 14 months later i had major testicle pain and my right leg would go out. 1 month ago i had a nerve stimalotor put in.the problem is still there when i had the stimolator put in the hospital .when i woke up i noticed the surgeon was there. i think the doctor that put in in is covering up something how do i find out what kind of mesh they put in.i am very worried.i still have alot of pain and my pain doctor is trying to say that i am lying and i all want is money.
Comment by michael on 17 October 2009:
In April 27th this year I picked up a heavy backpack, felt a tear in my groin, and pain up and around my hip to my left flank. Ever since then my entire world has been crumbling around me.
This happened at noon just as I was on my way out the door to meet a friend, and then to attend a phlebotomy refresher course later that evening. I tried to ignore what I was saying itrapersonally: “This must be what a hernia feels like.” By the time I met up with my friend, the pain had become beime sebere enough for me to have to miss the skill refresher, and proceed directly to the ER at Kaiser in Oakland.
While there, despite my tale of physical strain, I was diagnosed with a UTI, and profalacticly given an IV antibiotic, prescribed an additional course of oral antibiotic, and a prescription for Vicodin. It was now 2am, my friend I was to stay with was most certainly asleep , not enough money to get a hotel, and I was told I would need to leave: Until I suggested that I had consummed four liters of beverage (my favorite 1.9l 7/11 Ultimate Gulp), plus the two giant bags of IV fluids and not only had I not passed any urine, but I had absolutely no urge to pee. The doc didn’t seem like it was a concern, but orderd a nurse proceed with a catheter. That procedure didn’t go well, and even tho I had been given a fair ammount of dillauded
Comment by rita on 1 November 2009:
how do i go about finding out what kind of mesh was used in a operation? my father had a hernia operation in about 1997 and the va put a mesh in him and a brother who had mesh put in a scar on his shoulder that the tissue and muscle has attached to and causes him pain daily to the point of taking strong pain meds.
Comment by Jeff on 24 January 2010:
Rita – request the medical records from the hospital in question and it will have the product info along with the notes from the surgery. I did that recently because I’m in constant pain since mine. On me they used Davol Bard Mesh Perfix Plug. Anyone know anything about this device?
Comment by glo on 27 January 2010:
Many years ago my mother had hernia surgery … they didn’t use mesh or any thing else … funny she is fine today .. never returned and she never got sick from it. Maybe it’s time we turn back the clock to things that worked before … much like a wheel … if it don’t need fixin then leave it alone.
Comment by jennifer on 13 February 2010:
i had hysterectomy in june 2006 i am in constant abdominal pain ever since many tests done still on heavy pain meds could they have used a mesh? anyone else with same story or any ideas
Comment by Sam on 27 February 2010:
I had an inginal hernia that was repaired in the fall of 2004. In 2007 (February) I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. I am currently pulling the OR’s records to find out what hernia patch was used for the surgical repair. The reason being, the underlying lymph node, since my PetScans and CT Scans began in 2007, have showed that this lymph node is still swollen. The two questions that I have are; can the hernia patch cause enough irritaiton to have my lymphatic system fight it? and two, are there possible links between Hernia patches and cancer?….
Comment by Michael on 3 March 2010:
Im just looking for updates, seems no lawyer wants to speak of the issue are they all laughing at us Kugel mesh injured because they are all taking us for a legal ride. yep I am FURIOUS WITH MY ATTORNEY.
Comment by byron on 15 April 2010:
i had daily updates from this site until march 17 /10 in order to kuup up to date on the kugel mesh trials.as i am a victim of the mesh;i tried to re-subscribe but keep being told i am receiving it,NO I”M NOT but please help me get the daily aboutlawsuits back as i haven’t seen anything anywhere else about the MDL now in progress
Comment by Melissa on 23 April 2010:
I have had two hernia repair surgeries which have been repaired with mesh. I am not sure if it is the patches that have been recalled but would like to have someone take a look for me. Since my surgeries the hernia has come back I am in terrible abdominal pain I cannot stand or lay on my stomach or left side. I cannot wear tight clothes and even the seatbelt in my car is extremely uncomfortable. I have problems with unexpected constipation and or diarreah. My last surgery was in the latter part of 2007. Around three months after surgery I began having problems. I went back to my surgeon who refused to fix it again saying that I wasn’t a good candidate for surgery. My stomach constantly stays bloated and or swollen looking causing many people to inquire if I am pregnant just because of the way it is shaped. My incision is infused with an enormous amount of scar tissue causing it to not be flexible which causes problem with being able to bend over. Probably most important is that I cannot lose any weight in my stomach which in turn is causing problems in my lower back such as ostio-arthritus. I am at the emergency room at least once a month for them to look at the hernia and all they can do is give me pain meds and send me home. Due to being layed off my job I no longer have insurance to go to a regular doctor. I will be 35 years old this year and may have to file for disability because I cannot meet most job requirements of standing, bending or lifting. Due to not being able to meet those requirements I have been unemployed since July of last year.
Comment by Stephanie on 13 May 2010:
I have had a total of 7 hernia repairs all using mesh, I have had continued pain and problems with the hernia repairs… I have gone back to the doctor’s to find out the reason for my pain and am being told that the mesh is irritating the scar tissue…
Comment by shawn on 4 June 2010:
I’ve had a total of 14 surgery’s. the first 3 with bard kugel mesh patch. I;ve been put on diability for the last 6 yrs lost almost everything from relationships to job. As i write this im awaiting another surgery. ucsf in SAN FRANCISCO. i hope and pray that nobody goes through this ever and the people or company responsible for this are held responsible. ive also gained so much weight with all the pain meds and not abkle to do anykind of physical activity. in closeing everybody out there thats going through this i wish them well
Comment by Jan on 18 June 2010:
I have had problems ever since my patch was installed, many of the same problems people that have posted a comment has had and then some.
Comment by Maureen on 18 June 2010:
I had a large ventral hernia repair in 2007 with a Bard mesh. I had continueing problems with drainage and infection and ended up with exploratory sugery to find the source of the infection. Nothing significant was found. I came home from the hospital and developed a huge infection called morgaella morganii that took 8 months to get under control only to be left with a staph infection. My doctor finally decided that the mesh had to come out and 2 doctors were present during the surgery to remove the mesh only to find it balled up in my abdomen,full of staph. It was removed and I had to have my incision left open to heal and avoid more infection which meant that the hernia still needed repair. Pathology in the hospital found that the mesh was compromised and that it was in two pieces when they examined it from the balled up state. Since then I have had another hernia repair using other materials and seem to be healing well without the problems from before. I contacted a lawyers 14 months ago after the removal who said he would take the case. After 9 months of trying to contact him he finally stated that he didn’t want to handle it. Wasted 9 mths. of the precious 2 yrs. I have to file a claim. I found a notable lawyer who is handling the cases in Rhode Island and after 2 mths. decided he didn’t want it. He didn’t say I didn’t have a case, just to find another lawyer. The mesh that was used on me was not one of the original recalled ones but it was stated in articles I read about these cases that that didn’t mean that it wasn’t possible for the one I had to be compromised in the same way as the recalled ones. I actually have the mesh that was removed from the hospital in my care as evidence. I realize that it is more difficult to prove a case if it isn’t one of the original recalled meshes but I can’t believe that my case has no significance. Is it that the money awarded isn’t enough in each case for someone to do the work?? I realize this is wordy but my life has been on hold and the expenses since I have no insurance has resulted in us remortgaging our house and still it’s above that.
Comment by Sharon on 11 July 2010:
I had a hernia repair in Nov. 03. Two weeks later I was readmitted to the hospital with an obvious wound infection. I was taken back to surgery and the wound was “cleaned out” I went home with a wound vac that I had on from Dec.03 to July 04. The wound drains every so often. I go get antiobotics and pain pills and the drainage stops. This yeat 2010 the wound started draining in Feb. I got the antibotics and pain pills and the draining stopped but I had a terrible pain in my stomach. The wound erupted and I went to the emergency room and was in surgery.in two hours. I was admitted to the hospital for 44 days with a major infection. I have been told that the mesh should have been removed back in Dec. 03 that once it becomes infected you will continue to have problems. The mesh was removed this time. Now the problem is getting the wound to heal. I go to the wound care center every week and they have me using multidex and aquacel for the dressing. The wound care center says that the problem is there is nothing I can do that cause pressure on the wound. I don ‘t know what to do. I can’t work because of the pain. If anyone knows of a solution please let me know.
Comment by cathy on 20 July 2010:
I have more herina repairs than i can count on both hands. The last 2 surgeries there was a mesh put in. Weeks after my last surgery I looked swollen and was told that it would go down. Well that was over 2yrs ago and now I look like I am about to give birth. So this has caused more problems, I have changed surgerons to see what is going on and I know that I am looking at another surgery seeing as another herina has come out on my left side. I have already had a foot of my colon removed due to a larger herina cutting it off. There has to be something to do for this to stop. Seeing as I only work at a desk and not allowed to lift.
Comment by Jean on 18 August 2010:
I had Hernia surgery in Oct. 2009, everything was fine until the last week in June 2010,one of the incision sites had a little knot in it I,could roll the knot arount which meant it was in a capsule, I went to my Doctor, he agreed it was a little cyst that had to be removed,but he was going on vacation for 2 weeks would do surgery when he returned, surgery was set up for July 26/2010. The site became red all around the cyst, about the size of a softball and started to get a pus head to it I was out of town for the 4th of July, my doctor was out of town, I just kept hoping it wouldn’t rupture until I got home, It was very sore and painful at times, sometimes a deep stabbing pain. My hernia was due to Gall Bladder I had in 1976, hadn’t been closed properly, hernia was right over my stomach.It started forming heads like a boil, I had about 5 of them, on the way home on Monday, we stopped to eat, I went to the bath room, looked down and my stomach and everywhere was full of bloody mucus, I panicked for a moment then realized what had happened, it ruptured in a public bath room, what a place for that to happen. It took a half roll of toilet paper to clean it up and to stop the ozzing, I held toilet paper folded several times over it under my top until I could get back in our Motor home and cleand it up and bandage it.It had been painful and sore, but after it rupurted it felt much better. Got home and called the doctors office, saw my doctors associate, which was a woman, she had very little to say, took a steril cotton tip applicator, the stick end and stuck it down in the opening of the incision, I thought she was doing a culture for sure, found out later she didn’t. She said she wasn’t going to do anything, my doctor would be back the next week and to come back to see him then, she did put me on strong antibodic. I went back the next week to see my doctor, there was still some drainage, he said it was a stitch that was supposed to be permanate, but sometimes had to be removed, set up surgery for the next week, everything went well got the stitch out and two nights later,the site became red and started to hurt, called the doctor the next morning, went in to see another associate,my doctor was in Surgery. This doctor said when ever you operate on someone with infection you never close it up completely, you leave a drain to get that bacteria out of there. He got some instruments, I said what are you going to do take the stitches out he said you can bet your life I am, and I’ll bet you pus is going to ozz out of it, then yep sure did,he did a culture, and put me on the antibodic for Staph Iinfection (whick came within a split second of taking my life in 1976 I was in ICU for 2 months) He told me to come back in to see my doctor in a week, this time the drainage had stopped, my doctor said to leave it alone, let it heal up, I tried to pull the incision open, he said no no no let it heal up. I was getting read to go out of town again on a camping trip and noticed a lump around the top of the incision, I thought it was scar tiswsue at 1st, but started to get sore, I showed it to my husband, he said, yes, it needs to drain, next day I had a physical with my family doctor, he sent me right over to the surgeon, he took a Syringe and drew about 5cc’s of fluid off , about a burgendy color, he had a name for it, said it was old blood and serum, said it had no odor, and did another culture on it, said the culture before didn’t grow anything, thought I was ok and told me to call him If i need nim, that night at the camp ground when I was changing the dressing, the incision was festeret up, I cleand it dressed it, and took a shower the next morning, it ruptured started to drain, still draining, I see him tomorrow. I told my husband I have had it, I want some answeres, there is something in there that doesn’t belong there, I want a cat scan an MRI what ever it takes tomorrow. That is my story up until now. In 1977 I had the same thing happen from surgery on my throat, I went to Mayo Clinc in Rochester Minn. had surgery there, found sutures and foriegn material, surgery after surgery and draining in my throat for 8YEARS, where my brain was I don’t know I was just thankful to be alive, and didn’t want to fight, I am over that, where do I go from here?????