Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery Complications and Medical Negligence

More than a million Americans every year have surgery to repair a hernia. Many of these patients will opt for a laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure where surgeons operate through small incisions in the body. However, these procedures carry a unique set of risks that can lead to severe consequences.

About Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgeries were originally designed for gallbladder and gynecological surgeries, but are now used in abdominal surgeries and more. Where a traditional surgery requires one, large incision, a laparoscopic surgery requires several small (typically 1 -2 cm) incisions. A small camera is inserted into a cut and the surgeon works from that image to perform the procedure. The surgeon applies mesh over the muscle wall to hold back the tissue or organs, and surgical tacks hold the mesh in place during the surgery.

Hernia Surgery Complications

Hernia operations are a very common medical procedure, and the vast majority are conducted with little to no complications–but no surgery is risk-free. Over the years, mesh manufacturers have recalled several types of mesh for product defects causing serious health issues. Common hernia mesh complications include:

• Chronic pain
• Intestinal blockage
• Infection
• Scarring

Symptoms of a defective surgical mesh may not present themselves right away. In some cases, patients ignore their symptoms for a long time before seeking medical attention. If you’ve experienced any of the following symptoms after a hernia surgery, we recommend visiting your doctor.

• Severe pain in the abdomen or groin
• Sporadic fevers or swelling
• Severe nausea
• Severe headaches

Hernia Surgery Negligence

Medical negligence is also a possibility of any surgery. We recently handled a case in which our client had mesh secured to her diaphragm in order to repair a hiatal hernia. The tacks used to secure the mesh punctured the sac surrounding her heart, and she became unstable within hours of the surgery. The surgeon’s limited view of the surgery site caused him to misplace the tack, and our client had to undergo multiple surgeries to repair the damage done to her heart as well as the original hernia. We settled the case for $450,000.