How Long After Surgery Can Hernia Mesh Complications Happen?
Hernia mesh complications can arise months or even years after a hernia mesh procedure. In some cases, patients did not develop symptoms of hernia mesh injuries until five years after their surgery. Once they begin, negative symptoms related to hernia mesh complications can last for many years.
What Type of Delayed or Long-Term Complications Can Happen After Hernia Mesh
Patients may not experience symptoms from hernia mesh complications until years after the surgery. The type of hernia mesh injury or complication may impact how long it takes for the symptoms to become noticeable.
Five complications that are often associated with hernia mesh surgery include:
Chronic Pain
Pain that was not present before surgery and has lasted for several months following the surgery can be termed as chronic pain. Pain at the incision site immediately following a hernia mesh surgery is to be expected. However, the pain should not last for months following the surgery.
Chronic pain can be debilitating. It can prevent someone from working or performing daily activities. If you experience pain months after hernia mesh surgery, the pain could be caused by a defective device or medical negligence.
Migration
Mesh migration can happen over time and can result in bleeding and pain. It could take decades for the mesh to migrate and cause injuries.
Injuries include:
- Bowel perforation
- Intestinal obstruction
- Chronic abdominal pain
- Mass formation
A fistula may form in your digestive tract that permits fluids to leak through the lining of the intestines and stomach. A fistula may result in a severe infection that could be life-threatening.
Some patients may require mesh removal surgery, which might include removing some of the surrounding tissue. Improper placement of the device or a defective device could be the cause of mesh migration.
Adhesions
Scar tissue between two surfaces of the body is called adhesions. Adhesions may form after a traumatic injury or the insertion of a device into the body, including hernia mesh. Researchers believe that adhesions impact a large percentage of abdominal surgery patients.
The adhesions can cause a variety of complications and conditions, including chronic pelvic pain, bowel obstruction, infertility, bloating, painful urination, and blocked digestion.
In most cases, doctors must perform a laparoscopy to detect adhesions because they are difficult to see through imagining, such as x-rays, ultrasounds, or MRIs.
Infections
Infections following hernia mesh surgery can cause life-threatening conditions. Patients may develop infections related to hernia mesh surgery for years after the hernia repair. Other factors might increase the risk of infection, such as the type of mesh, underlying comorbidities, and surgical technique.
Symptoms of infection may include skin redness, pain, swelling, tenderness, and flu-like symptoms. The use of synthetic materials for hernia repair appears to have caused the number of patients with late-onset deep prosthetic infections to increase.
Bowel Obstruction
Hernias are a leading cause of bowel obstructions, but mesh repair surgery can also lead to blockage of the bowels. The FDA analyzed medical adverse event reports and found that recalled mesh products were the primary cause of bowel obstruction and bowel perforation complications.
Bowel obstruction symptoms may include nausea, inability to pass gas, cramping, bloating, vomiting, and abdominal pain. A large bowel blockage could also cause constipation or diarrhea.
A bowel blockage could cut off blood supply to the intestines causing life-threatening conditions if the blockage is not treated. Treatment generally requires surgery to remove the mesh, damaged tissue, and adhesions.
Bottom Line – Hernia Mesh Complications Can Occur Years After Surgery
Patients need to know that they could develop severe and life-threatening injuries and conditions following hernia mesh surgery. Some complications may not develop for years after surgery.
If you begin suffering from unexplained symptoms, tell your doctor about your hernia mesh surgery. In cases involving defective products or medical malpractice, the person may be entitled to compensation for injuries and damages.
However, proving that the hernia mesh caused your injury can be complicated. The type of hernia mesh that was used for your surgery could have been recalled or is no longer on the market. Begin by contacting a hernia mesh lawsuit attorney to discuss your case.
Numerous lawsuits are pending against several manufacturers and other parties. If you have questions, do not wait to contact a hernia mesh injury attorney.
Your deadline to file an injury claim may be fast approaching. You do not want to allow the deadline to file a claim to pass, or you could lose your right to recover compensation for your damages and injuries.