Hazardous Complications from Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Implants
Most U.S. hernia mesh surgeries use polypropylene mesh, a surgical flesh made of flexible, synthetic materials. Polypropylene is a widely manufactured type of plastic meant to be chemically inactive in order to, ideally, minimize complications. However, researchers have found this plastic may actually be dangerous when used for hernia mesh implants and cause severe complications.
What is Polypropylene?
In 1958 a polypropylene mesh was first surgically used to repair an abdominal wall and has been used in repair surgeries ever since. Polypropylene is a type of manufactured plastic, ranging in use from furniture to medical devices. As stated previously, polypropylene is an inert plastic, meaning it is chemically inactive, which helps minimize complications.
Medical manufacturers use polypropylene to make surgical mesh, typically to repair hernias or other soft tissues. Polypropylene meshes are used as a framework to close hernias and relieve tension on damaged tissue.
Polypropylene Mesh Implant Injuries
The FDA recently found polypropylene meshes have caused a number of severe complications in patients across the U.S. According to the FDA, versions of surgical mesh products, now recalled, have caused complications including:
Continued studies have discovered polypropylene contracts and degrades over time when it comes into contact with internal organs, leading to mesh failure. A failed polypropylene mesh can cause patients to experience severe internal injuries, especially after the mesh has broken and re-exposed the hernia. Thousands of lawsuits across the country claim their polypropylene hernia mesh implants failed, causing them to need a painful revision surgery to remove the defective surgical mesh.
To avoid the problem of polypropylene buckling and failing after being inserted into the body, some manufacturers created coated polypropylene meshes called composite meshes. However, a number of hernia mesh lawsuits claim that despite the coating, composite hernia mesh implants still have a high failure rate and cause injuries.
Did You Experience Complications from a Failed Hernia Mesh?