One of the most common surgeries performed in the world are hernia mesh repair surgeries. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, an estimated 2.3 million inpatient abdominal hernia repairs were performed from 2001 to 2010, of which an estimated 567,000 were performed as an emergency.
A general increase in the rate of total emergency hernia surgeries was observed from 16.0 to 19.2 emergency hernia repairs per 100,000 persons, in the years 2001 and 2010, respectively.
This increasing trend in hernia mesh repair surgeries also brought with it a rise in the number of defective hernia mesh surgery related injuries.
Consequently, approximately 3,000 hernia mesh related lawsuits have been filed in the United States to date.
Repairing hernia
There are many products used to repair hernias: plugs, patches, and mesh, among others. The most common hernia repair surgery performed uses mesh, because it is believed that mesh repairs are effective in reducing the chances of the recurrence of hernias.
Although some symptoms of a defective hernia mesh surgery are not visible nor tangible, there are still some indications you should be aware of.
Listed below are the four signs you should watch out for if you or a loved one has recently undergone this procedure.
Severe or Chronic Pain
After surgery, pain in the area of incision is usual. However, after the standard healing time has passed, the pain should subside. If the throbbing ache in the area has not yet lessened or becomes worse, immediate medical attention is a must.
Abscess
According to the US National Library of Medicine, an abscess is a pocket of pus composed of living and dead white blood cells. It is easily recognizable by its texture characterized by swelling under the skin.
Fever
Fever, after a surgery, becomes a concern when it is accompanied by nausea, vomiting or redness around the area of your surgery incision. A high fever after a surgery may mean one of three things: infection, adverse reaction to medication or a defect in your recent surgery.
Recurring Hernia
One of the causes of a recurrent hernia is inadequate repair during the initial procedure. Check with your surgeon for any concerns regarding this.
If you experience any or all of these symptoms, be sure to get checked by your doctor immediately. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to more serious consequences.
If you, a loved one, or a friend had a defective mesh implant, you should be aware of your legal right to be compensated for your loss. Hiring an experienced defective hernia mesh lawyer would increase your chances of having a sufficient and just claim against the hospital and/or your surgeon.
Among the compensations you can get in a defective mesh implant suit are payment of medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and payment of costs for further corrective surgeries, among others.
The legal experts at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon have an extensive background in handling complex defective medical litigation with more than 35 years of experience in this field. Be sure to have your claim filed quickly and have it properly defended.