When you were struggling with a hernia, you thought you had no choice but to go through surgery. You had a surgical hernia mesh implanted, and that helped for a long time. Unfortunately, there were complications that developed later on.

Hernia mesh complications can be devastating and lead to significant pain and infection. Without treatment, some complications could be fatal.

Did you know that hernia mesh complications could occur immediately following surgery or years down the line?

It’s important to note that hernia mesh surgery can cause issues immediately or many years later. You may suddenly develop severe pain one day or find that you have an infection. These are possible complications that can arise at almost any time.

What are some common hernia mesh complications patients have suffered from?

Common hernia mesh complications include:

  • Bowel perforations
  • Infection
  • Bowel obstructions
  • Rejection
  • Recurrence
  • Chronic pain
  • Migration
  • Adhesions

Around a third of people who have hernia surgeries do suffer from some kind of complication. The most common complaint is excessive pain, but adhesions are also common. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that adhesions are scar-like tissues that act like glue, sticking different tissues together. Adhesions can lead to chronic, severe pain. Some patients may suffer from life-threatening bowel obstructions from adhesions involving a hernia mesh.

Another risk is a bowel obstruction. Bowel obstructions can also be fatal if left untreated. Signs of a bowel obstruction include the inability to pass stool or gas, nausea and vomiting. If a patient has a bowel obstruction, they need immediate medical intervention. Obstructions have the potential to cut off the blood flow to the area of the intestines, which then can lead to tissue and organ death. If that happens, at least part of the organ may need to be removed.

Finally, one last severe complication that can happen is a bowel perforation. This happens when the mesh punctures a hole in the bowel or abdominal wall. Sometimes, a perforation can involve other organs. Symptoms often include severe abdominal pain, abdominal rigidity, nausea and vomiting. This also requires emergency medical care.

As you can see, hernia mesh implants can lead to significant complications and a risk of death. It is important for patients to understand the risks before undergoing these procedures and to get immediate medical care if they’ve had sudden or severe symptoms that could be related to the hernia mesh implant.