Johnson & Johnson’s manufacturer, Ethicon issued a full recall of its Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh after two studies found higher rates of hernias re-opening versus similar products.

What is Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh?

Every year, surgeons perform around 150,000 ventral hernia repairs in the United States. Doctors can perform the operation laparoscopically or by opening the site surgically. During surgery, it is very common for surgeons to stitch a mesh patch over a hernia to strengthen the abdominal wall. This makes sure the hernia will not reopen. For thousands of patients, this is exactly what happened while using Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh.

Dangers of Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh

A pair of European registries in Germany and Denmark revealed the discrepancy between Physiomesh flexible composite and the other meshes in the registries after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Because it is made of polypropylene, the material can break down. This causes a hernia to reoccur, bacterial infections, or swelling at the surgery site. Most need more surgery to fix the issue. Ethicon suggests surgeons replace it with another one of their products: Proceed, Prolene, Prolene Soft or Ultrapro surgical mesh.

Hernia Surgery Patients

Firstly, if you had hernia surgery, contact your surgeon to know if he or she used Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh. Also, be vigilant at monitoring the symptoms of complications found most often with the hernia mesh. If you experienced any of these symptoms, contact us today.
These side effects are:

• Intense pain
• Infection
• Hernia recurrence
• Adhesion or scar-tissue fusing together
• Intestinal blockage
• Mesh migration
• Mesh shrinking
• Bleeding
• A hole forming in neighboring tissues or organs

For Doctors

Medical professionals had until September 16, 2016, to return unused Physiomesh for a full refund. Surgeons should examine their inventory immediately to see if they still have the mesh in question. Then, look for the product code in the upper right-hand corner of the foil packet, which contains the mesh.

The recalled product codes can be viewed in the following table.

Then, please fill out Ethicon’s Business Reply Form. This form is important to complete even if you do not have any of the recalled mesh.

Already Injured?

Thousands have already been injured by this hernia mesh.  You are not alone. Additionally, if you had any complications, following your hernia surgery related to the mesh the surgeon use, contact us today.

 How We Can Help

When you experience side effects, it can have devastating effects on your entire life. In fact, you may be entitled to compensation for their injuries and damages. The types of losses that can be recovered include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of an ability to work; and
• Pain and suffering

Furthermore, if a person dies from complications, family members may be able to recover damages for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:

• Funeral expenses
• Medical expenses prior to death
• Loss of economic support; and
• Loss of companionship