Composix Kugel Hernia Mesh Patch – An Insight

Doctors and surgeons use Bard Composix Kugel Mesh hernia patch to repair ventral hernias. Stretching of scar tissues or post – surgical thinning is responsible for causing hernia. Doctors made small incision through which they insert the patch behind the hernia. Its memory coil ring lets the device to be implanted in a folded state, but it springs open after being properly placed. The United States Food and Drug Administration announced its recall in December 2005 after the reports of patch’s “memory recoil ring” malfunction surfaced. This caused punctured organs, bowel rupture and intestinal fistulae in some patients. The FDA further updated this recall in December 2007 on the reports of other product codes having same defect appeared.

Composix Mesh Hernia Patches Responsible for Intestinal Fistulae

Patients who have undergone surgery within the last four or five years might be at an increased risk of developing serious complications and even death due to the recalled Bard Composix Kugel Mesh Patches. The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first recalled the patches, which are used in the repair of ventral (incisional) hernias, in 2005. However, the FDA announced a new recall for the sizes of the Composix patches. The major culprit, defective “memory recall rings” causes hazardous intestinal fistulae, bowel rupture or punctured organs.

Doctors insert the Composix Kugel patches behind the area of a ventral hernia. Doctors fold them and place them via small incision and the patch opens to its complete size and start reinforcing the weakened hernia area. However, the memory recall rings in greater Composix mesh patches may fail to engage properly and thus causing the hernia patch to fail. There is high possibility that this failure may cause severe complications in inter abdominal cavity, some of which include intestinal fistulae or bowel tissues.

Explaining Intestinal Fistulae

Intestinal fistulae are commonly found in patients suffering from gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome. They happen when swelling “tunnels” down through intestinal tissue, forming tubes connecting the bowel with different organs or the skin. The invasive type of intestinal swelling can cause irregular bowel drainage, intense pain or may even cause bypass of certain intestinal segments. Abscesses or infections can occur, endangering the life of a victim and leading to painful surgical processes to repair the intestines.

Some intestinal fistulae react to antibiotic treatment, however, this treatment procedure usually does not completely close the fistulae and there is high possibility that it may reopen. Surgical procedure may be necessary as intestinal fistulae affect the patients’ ability to control his bowel movements.

If you are, someone implanted with a Bard Composix Kugel Mesh Patch for your incisional hernia then contact your health care professional immediately. Thereafter, you may seek the advice of an experienced medical device attorney. A knowledgeable medical device attorney will help you in evaluating your medical claim and help you in filing a lawsuit so that you may receive some monetary compensation for your damagers.