Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch Lawsuit
Mr. Potts was co-counsel with Don Migliori of Motley Rice and Jeffrey Kuntz in the first Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch bellwether case tried in the country as part of the federal multi district litigation. Mr. Potts handled key witnesses at trial including the plaintiffs’ chief liability expert witness, a bioengineer. After a 4 week jury trial, the 9 person jury unanimously found that the Composix Kugel Hernia Patch which was placed in over 100,000 patients was defective and unreasonably dangerous due to its propensity to change shape and buckle in the body.
Specifically, the device was recalled because the “memory recoil ring” can break. The memory recoil ring opens the patch after it has been inserted into the intra-abdominal space. The plastic coil ring is designed to aid in its deployment but can break when increased stress is placed on it from certain surgical placement techniques. A malfunction of this device can lead to bowel perforations and/or chronic intestinal fistulae (abnormal connections or passageways between the intestines and other organs). The Composix Kugel Mesh Patch was removed from the U.S. market on December 22, 2005. The Composix Kugel Mesh Patch is used for ventral or incisional hernias and is manufactured by Davol, Inc., a division of C.R. Bard.
A hernia is a weakness in either the lining of the abdomen or the pelvic wall. Unfortunately, many patients who have received recalled Kugel mesh have experienced serious hernia mesh complications such as hernia mesh infection, bowel perforations, bowel obstructions and chronic enteric fistulas. The Kugel hernia mesh patch is placed behind the hernia through a small incision. The hernia patch is then held open by a memory recoil ring that allows the mesh to be folded during surgery and later spring open and lay flat after it is in place. Around 600,000 hernia operations are performed each year in the United States.
One of the more serious hernia mesh problems is a perforated bowel, in which the ring creates a hole in the stomach or intestine and food from one of those organs leaks into the abdominal cavity, causing a potentially life-threatening infection. Another complication is a fistula, which is an abnormal connection or passageway between two parts of the intestine. This can cause both pain and infection. Over 80 injuries and problems have been reported as a result of broken rings, including several fatalities.
Perhaps you have had hernia surgery, but are unsure of whether or not you received the Kugel patch. If you or someone you know is affected by the Kugel mesh hernia patch recall, call the Kugel Mesh lawsuit attorneys of Potts Law at 866-311-2230 to discuss your legal options.
