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Ethicon Withdrawals Hernia Mesh from the Market

On Behalf of | Dec 16, 2016 | Dangerous & Defective Devices |

Ethicon Voluntarily Withdrawals Mesh Over High Rate of Failure

New Jersey hernia mesh lawyers share options for legal recourse for patients

Last month, Ethicon voluntarily withdrew its Physiomesh flexible composite hernia mesh from the market after study found that it had a higher rate of failure than other hernia meshes on the market. Doctors refer to this failure rate as the “revision rate,” which means that the patients had to have additional surgery to repair or replace the hernia mesh. The company, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, sent a letter to doctors and healthcare providers in May saying that it was voluntarily withdrawing the mesh after reviewing unpublished data from two European registries that showed the higher failure rate of the Physiomesh product compared to other hernia mesh options.

Ethicon said it thinks the product’s higher revision rate can be attributed to a number of factors, including characteristics of the product, actions taken in surgery, and the condition of the individual patient receiving the mesh. Since the company was unable to narrow down a specific cause and give doctors instructions on how to lower the revision rate, it simply withdrew the product from the market. It says it will not be making changes to the hernia mesh and reintroducing it to market.

Patients who have already received the Ethicon Physiomesh have not been given any instructions. Doctors have been told to follow these patients as usual, with no direction to look for any particular signs of trouble.

Patients may experience different symptoms if the mesh fails, depending on where it was inserted. Some symptoms that could indicate a problem with the hernia mesh include:

• Pain or soreness at the site
• Rash
• Lump near the incision
• Infection
• Heat radiating from the hernia site
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea, constipation or bloating
• Fever
• Tissue erosion

If you experience these or other symptoms, it may be a sign that you are experiencing problems with the hernia mesh. Ethicon is not the only company whose hernia mesh has been associated with such failures, and patients who experience symptoms after receiving any hernia mesh surgery should contact their doctors immediately to get to the source of the problem.

If your hernia mesh failed or caused medical problems, such as internal bleeding, tissue erosion, or even chronic pain, you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries. Your compensation can cover your medical costs, time lost from work due to your injuries, and the pain and suffering you experienced. Call Lomurro Law at 732-482-9285 to talk with one of our New Jersey hernia mesh lawyers, or use our secure form to contact us online. We serve clients in New Jersey and throughout the U.S. and all consultations are free of charge.