A Kugel hernia mesh lawsuit may be an option for people who suffered complications and adverse health events associated with the devices. Following several Kugel hernia mesh recalls, thousands of lawsuits were filed in which plaintiffs claimed to have experienced serious complications, including infections, adhesions, perforations and other internal injuries associated with the hernia mesh devices. Affected patients and their families may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue damages with the help of a Kugel hernia mesh lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated Kugel hernia mesh lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Kugel Hernia Mesh?
The majority of hernia repair surgeries use surgical hernia mesh or hernia patches to provide long-term treatment and support to the weakened and damaged tissues in the abdomen. Surgical mesh is a loosely woven sheet of synthetic or animal material used to support organs and other tissues during and after surgery. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the use of surgical mesh is not for everyone, and the agency suggests hernia patients discuss their options for surgery and the use of surgical mesh devices with their doctors and surgeons.
Manufactured by C.R. Bard and its subsidiary Davol Inc., the Kugel Hernia Patch is constructed from a synthetic material known as polypropylene and a non-absorbable “memory recoil” ring that allows the patch to spring open and retain its shape. Kugel hernia mesh is intended for use in all types of hernia repair that requires reinforcement with a non-absorbable support material. Non-absorbable surgical mesh is meant to provide permanent reinforcement to the repair site, and as the material degrades, new tissue growth is supposed to provide additional strength to the repair.
Kugel Hernia Mesh Complications
Possible complications associated with the use of the Kugel Hernia Patch in hernia repair surgeries include:
- A pocket of clear serous fluid that develops after surgery known as a seroma that may last for several months or even years
- Adhesions, or bands of scar tissue that attach to organs in the abdominal area
- Hematoma, a solid swelling of clotted blood within the tissues surrounding the hernia
- Inflammation
- Extrusion of the hernia mesh
- Fistula formations
- Recurrence of the hernia or soft tissue defect
If the recoil ring is cut or damaged during surgery or device insertion, additional complications may arise, including bowel or skin perforation and infection.
Kugel Hernia Mesh Recall
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recall database, there were at least three separate recalls involving Bard Composix Kugel hernia mesh between December 2005 and January 2007. Thousands of units were recalled because the memory recoil ring could break and potentially lead to bowel perforation and/or chronic enteric fistula.
Kugel Hernia Mesh Lawsuit Claims and Settlements
Kugel hernia mesh lawsuit attorneys note that thousands of lawsuits have been filed against C.R. Bard alleging serious complications and adverse reactions linked to its Kugel hernia mesh. Beginning in 2009, Kugel hernia mesh lawsuits were transferred and centralized in Rhode Island. Trials began in 2010, and some Kugel hernia mesh lawsuits were reportedly settled shortly after the first lawsuits were filed.
Among lawsuits filed against C.R. Bard, several plaintiffs claimed that the devices broke inside their bodies and led them to develop severe injuries, including bowel obstructions, severe abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, sickness, permanent bowel disfigurement, and other problems. According to reports, C.R. Bard agreed to settle over 2,000 lawsuits for $184 million in 2011 after plaintiffs claimed that the devices caused them to suffer significant injuries related to allegedly defective Composix Kugel hernia mesh patches.
In addition to Kugel hernia mesh settlements, a Rhode Island jury awarded a couple in North Carolina $1.5 million in compensatory damages after a month-long trial in which the plaintiffs claimed that a Kugel hernia patch broke and led to internal injuries and a sepsis infection. The judge overseeing the case denied the plaintiffs’ attempts at punitive damages.
How a Kugel Hernia Mesh Lawsuit Can Help
Medical device makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their devices, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a device maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by Kugel hernia mesh may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those killed may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
For more information, contact Attorney Group. After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
