Hernia Mesh Lawsuits
Last Updated: October 2008 • 18 Comments
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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.
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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.