Bard Hernia Mesh Injury Class Action

+ - Documents (5)

CONSUMER LAW GROUP has launched a class action lawsuit against Bard-manufactured hernia mesh products on behalf of individuals who have suffered severe complications due to their design defects.

These Bard products include:

(a) The Kugel Hernia Mesh Patch
(b) The 3DMax Mesh
(c) The PerFix Plug
(d) The Soft Mesh
(e) The Ventralex Hernia Mesh and the Ventralex ST Hernia Mesh
(f) The Sepramesh Composite.

A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. It can be surgically repaired using the conventional open method or the less invasive laparoscopic method. The use of a surgical mesh is viewed by the medical community as the standard of care for hernia repair. While studies show that a hernia mesh can prevent hernia recurrence, several mesh products have been recalled and many patients report suffering from complications.

Hernia mesh products have high failure and complication rates, and have resulted in severe and irreversible injuries. They can erode into the bowel, requiring multiple additional surgeries, weeks of hospitalization, partial bowel removal, colostomies, and more. Surgical mesh failure frequently causes patients to experience a systemic infection, which is even more likely in cases where a coated mesh is used.

The alleged injuries, conditions and complications suffered due to hernia mesh products include, but are not limited to:

- Hernia recurrence
- Chronic pain
- Mesh contraction
- Mesh migration
- Scarring
- Adhesions
- Infection and abscess formation
- Pain with sex
- Testicle removal
- Bleeding
- Intestinal blockage
- Fistulas
- Hematomas
- Seromas
- Liver abnormalities
- Perforations
- Bowel obstructions
- Dental problems
- Autoimmune disorders

The Bard products failed to adequately warn physicians and consumers of the serious side effects and unreasonably dangerous risks associated to their products.

There are several different hernia mesh products available, many of which are manufactured by different medical device companies. A list of medical device companies and their mesh products includes:

- Atrium – Maquet – Getinge Group (C-Qur Hernia Mesh)
- Ethicon – Johnson & Johnson (Physiomesh, Proceed Hernia Mesh)
- Davol – C.R. Bard (Kugel Hernia Mesh, 3DMax, PerFix Plug, Ventralex ST Hernia Mesh, Sepramesh)
- Covidien – Medtronic (Parietex Composite Mesh, Surgipro, Parietex Plug and Patch System)

The following are some case reports, studies, and data that further support the causal association:

• In 2016, a study published in JAMA Surgery and presented at the Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons showed that a risk of long-term mesh-related complications for open and laparoscopic mesh repairs offset the benefits of using mesh products. Out of the 3,242 study participants, 1,050 required subsequent abdominal surgery. Major complications included bowel obstruction, perforation and bleeding.

• In 2016, a study conducted by the Department of Surgery at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center showed that 31% of the 632 patients who were studied for two years after being implanted with hernia mesh, experienced complications within just two years. Complications included cellulitis, necrosis, nonhealing wound, seroma, hematoma, dehiscence, and fistula.

• In 2016, a study conducted by the Journal of Oral Microbiology showed that 36 patients with failed hernia mesh all had gingivitis and 33% had infected gums and teeth. Oral bacteria was discovered on 43% of the explanted hernia mesh.

• In 2013, the Department of Surgery at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center published a study where uncoated polypropylene was compared to various types of coated polypropylene placed intraperitoneally via laparoscopic procedure. The uncoated polypropylene hernia mesh resulted in significantly more adhesions.

• Several mesh products have already been recalled by Health Canada:

Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh
Ventralight ST Mesh with Echo
Proceed Surgical Mesh
Coated C-Qur Mesh
Bard Composix Kugel Mesh X-Large Patch

If you or a member of your family have suffered any of the above-mentioned side effects due to the use of hernia mesh products and you wish more information on potential compensation or to be kept advised of the status of the HERNIA MESH CLASS ACTION litigation or any resulting compensation from the HERNIA MESH lawsuit in Canada, Quebec or Ontario, please provide your contact information to our law firm using the form below.

IF YOU WISH TO JOIN THE CLASS ACTION OR TO SIMPLY GET MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW. Please note that providing your information creates no financial obligation for you. You are not charged any fee or cost for joining this class action. Our law firm is paid a contingency fee from the compensation recovered, only if the class action is successful. All information contained in this transmission is confidential and Consumer Law Group agrees to protect this information against unauthorized use, publication or disclosure.