In 2014, Covidien was acquired by Medtronic and now exists as one of Medtronic’s subsidiaries. Covidien hernia mesh products have been around for about two decades, but as of late, they have become subject to controversy.
Every month, more and more complaints are being filed with the FDA regarding serious defects in Covidien’s hernia mesh products and injuries sustained from those defects.
If you have undergone hernia mesh surgery, specifically ventral or inguinal, then you may be entitled to damages in a medical device liability lawsuit against Covidien.
Which Covidien Products May Be Defective?
The defective products at the center of most of these complaints are part of Covidien’s Symbotex line of hernia mesh products.
The Covidien Symbotex is an implantable hernia mesh that is mostly used to treat ventral hernia through laparoscopic surgeries. Unlike other hernia implants, the Symbotex is made of polyester rather than polypropylene plastic. The polyester in the Symbotex, however, has numerous defects that can result in chronic pain and discomfort, and lead to other medical complications.[i]
How to Find Out Which Hernia Mesh Implant You Have
If you are unsure whether your hernia mesh implant is a defective Covidien product, you should either:
(1) make an appointment with the original surgeon who installed the Covidien hernia mesh, or
(2) another experienced surgical specialist, or
(3) a combination of the two.
What to Expect Next
Your selected physician will likely review your medical records and conduct radiological exams before settling on a treatment plan. Many patients have already required revision surgeries to replace their defective Covidien implants, and many more join the list each month. Revision surgery due to a failed Covidien implant device can be painful, expensive and may not be covered by insurance.
What to Do If You Have a Defective Covidien Impant
Yet, if it is discovered that you do have a defective Covidien hernia mesh implant, you should get the implant removed immediately as the faulty product will only further worsen your condition.
If you end up undergoing revision surgery and get your Covidien hernia mesh implant removed, you should request that the surgeon hold onto the removed implant as it will function as important evidence down the road. Further, our Covidien attorneys are unable to file a lawsuit against Covidien until the implant gets removed, so this is an important step on the road to justice.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by a Covidien hernia mesh implant, please contact the New York attorneys at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP for a free consultation today. Our experienced team has over 50 years of experience with product liability and medical malpractice cases.
[i] See Klosterhalfen B, Klinge U, Schumpelick V, Tietze L, “Polymers in hernia repair–common polyester vs. polypropylene surgical meshes,” Journal of Materials Science 35(19):4769-76 (October 2000).
