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ATRIUM MESH


Product liability attorney investigating defective hernia mesh cases for injured plaintiffs nationwide
Nationwide Success

Atrium Hernia Mesh Lawsuits

investigating mesh device complications & injuries

A large number of patients throughout the United States have reported severe and debilitating problems following hernia implantation with Atrium C-Qur mesh or Proloop Mesh products. Common complications include chronic pain, infection, device rejection and hernia recurrence.

But rather than issuing a recall for the ProLoop or C-Qur devices, Atrium instead elected to quietly remove certain devices from the market and failed to warn consumers of their serious risk.

Atrium Medical embarked on what lawyers are calling a “stealth” recall of their C-Qur mesh products due to allegations that the device increased the risk of hernia mesh complications and Atrium mesh injuries.

Atrium knew or should have known about the potential risks of their products. However, information was withheld from patients and the medical community. Many surgeons and hospitals have recently stopped implanting the C-Qur hernia mesh due to high rates of infections, bowel obstructions, and allergic reactions.

Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Cincinnati product liability lawyer and Ohio mesh recall attorney representing plaintiffs nationwide in a wide variety of defective medical device and Atrium mesh injuries linked to ProLoop or C-QUR defects.

Atrium Mesh Injuries

The Atrium C-Qur mesh failure rates are unreasonably high, potentially resulting in the need for revision surgery and leaving patients with permanent and debilitating health problems.

The C-Qur mesh is made from polypropylene, the polymer plastic that is known to shrink, cause a foreign body reaction, become infected and erode. These mesh injuries are often life-changing, due to the pain and loss of function related to the faulty products,

If the hernia mesh adheres to the bowel, it could lead to a twisted and perforated bowel, causing gastric ulcers or other intestinal problems, including infections like sepsis and gangrene. Some reports also suggest that patients may suffer from the following:

•    Infection
•    Device rejection
•    Organ Perforation
•    Adverse foreign Body Response—inflammation and allergic reactions
•    Seroma
•    Revision Surgeries
•    Bowel Obstruction
•    Adhesion

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ABOUT THE LYON FIRM

Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.

The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.

NO COST UNLESS WE WIN

The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.

Atrium C-Qur Hernia Mesh

Despite signs of potential problems with the Atrium C-Qur mesh, the manufacturer continued to release products for use in hernia repair. All of the listed products are constructed out of an Atrium polypropylene mesh, with an outer coating of gel made from omega 3 fatty acids, called the O3FA layer. Surgeons utilize several types of C-Qur mesh for various abdominal procedures, including the following:

•    C-Qur
•    C-Qur Edge (officially recalled)
•    C-Qur V-Patch
•    C-Qur Tacshield
•    C-Qur FX
•    C-Qur CentriFX
•    C-Qur Mosaic
•    C-Qur Film

C-Qur Edge Recall

On October 11, 2012, the FDA issued a warning letter to Atrium Medical, noting that the company was failing to address serious complaints related to infections associated with their C-Qur hernia mesh product. The letter also revealed that Atrium Medical appeared to be ignoring sterility complaints.

In August, 2013, the FDA announced a recall of the C-Qur Edge mesh because the Omega 3 fatty acid coating on the mesh could adhere to the inner packaging liner due to exposure to high humidity. The recall affected over 1,500 C-Qur hernia mesh units.

Atrium warned physicians to inspect the C-Qur mesh device, but did not pull any of the C-Qur products off the shelf. Attorneys believe that the coating of the C-Qur mesh has peeled off in patients once implanted, and has resulted in significant injuries.

Atrium Mesh Lawsuits 

Many lawsuits have been filed against Atrium after patients allegedly suffer from a variety of ProLoop and C-Qur mesh injuries. One particular plaintiff underwent surgery for a hernia in which Atrium C-Qur mesh was used, and roughly two years post-operation, the patient noticed an onset of severe stomach pain.

The hernia also recurred, and the patient underwent surgery again to remove the Atrium C-Qur mesh. Surgeons found the C-Qur mesh crumpled in her abdomen, where it had caused scar tissue, making it impossible to replace the C-Qur with new mesh. The patient’s attorneys argue that the C-Qur fish oil coating resulted in her body rejecting the hernia mesh.

Other patients who are implanted with similar Atrium devices have alleged similar foreign body reactions. Physicians have reported to the FDA experiences of the coating peeling off during implantation or within a week after implantation.

Atrium’s C-Qur hernia mesh is among many devices on the market that have not been proven safe through extensive testing for Pre-Market Approval. As a result, an increasing number of claims against Atrium Medical have been filed in the courts.

The lawsuits contend that Atrium knew or should have known about both the risks of rejection, and other associated complications. Medical device companies like Gore, Covidien, Aspide, Atrium, Ethicon and Bard have agreed to pay million to settle lawsuits. The companies currently face thousands of pending lawsuits.

If you have had surgery to treat a hernia using a device and you experience any signs or symptoms of recurrence of the hernia, please consult with a medical and legal expert. The Lyon Firm has experience litigating cases against medical device manufacturers.

photo of attorney Joe Lyon reviewing atrium mesh lawsuits
A Voice for Those who have suffered 

Why are these cases important?

Defective medical device litigation helps to improve patient safety and holds medical device companies accountable when defective products injure plaintiffs and clients.

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Questions about Atrium Mesh Litigation

Can I file a hernia mesh lawsuit?

Attorneys claim several hernia mesh devices were not properly tested before they were marketed and distributed as safe medical instruments.

The companies currently face thousands of pending hernia mesh injury lawsuits. If you have had surgery to treat a hernia using a device and you experience any signs or symptoms of recurrence of the hernia, please consult with a medical and legal expert. The Lyon Firm has experience litigating cases against medical device manufacturers.

Attorneys contend that some hernia mesh devices are not properly tested before they are distributed to the public as safe products. Device companies like Gore, Aspide, Ethicon, Bard, Covidien and Atrium have settled hundreds of lawsuits and currently face countless more injury claims.

If you are unsure about the mesh manufacturer and product used in your surgery and have questions about your hernia repair, contact your Ohio surgeon to obtain medical records. Contact a Cincinnati hernia mesh lawyer to discuss potential hernia mesh injury lawsuits and settlement.

What hernia mesh products have allegedly caused injury?
  • Gore DualMesh
  • Aspide Surgimesh
  • Ethicon
  • Physiomesh
  • Proceed
  • Prolene
  • Covidien 
  • Parietex
  • Parietene
  • Permacol
  • Surgipro
  • Atrium
  • C-Qur
  • ProLoop
  • Bard/ Davol
  • Visilex
  • Composix
  • Marlex
  • Ventralight
  • Spermatex
  • 3D Max
  • Sepramesh
  • PerFix Plug
  • Ventralex
  • Kugel
How common is hernia recurrence?

Regardless of treatment, hernias have a high rate of recurrence, and surgeons often use surgical mesh to strengthen the hernia repair recurrence rate. The use of meshes is thought to reduce dramatically the incidence of hernia recurrence.

However, up to 50 percent of hernias may reoccur with an implanted device. This is commonly due to inadequate fixation during the original operation or shrinkage of the mesh. Light-weight meshes may have a higher risk due to their increased flexibility and movement.

Two-thirds of recurrences occur after three years. It is not clear if the type of mesh used has any effect on durability. All mesh products appear equally limited in effectiveness.

what are the different types of hernias?
  • Inguinal: occurs in the inner groin. The most common of abdominal hernias. Sometimes muscles that attach to the pelvis leave a weakened area and if there is a stress placed on that area, the weakened tissues can allow a portion of small bowel to slide through that opening, causing pain and producing a bulge. Inguinal hernias are more likely to occur in men.
  • Femoral: occurs in the upper thigh/outer groin. Femoral hernias tend to occur more frequently in women.
  • Incisional: occurs through an incision or scar in the abdomen. Incisional hernias occur as a complication of abdominal surgery, where the abdominal muscles are cut to allow the surgeon to enter the abdominal cavity to operate.
  • Ventral: occurs in the general abdominal/ventral wall
  • Umbilical: occurs at the belly button and are very common in newborns and often do not need treatment unless complications occur. Some umbilical hernias enlarge and may require repair later in life.
  • Hiatal: occurs inside the abdomen, along the upper stomach/diaphragm
  • Obturator: the least common hernia of the pelvic floor, mostly found in women who have had multiple pregnancies or who have lost significant weight.
What is a fistula?

Repair of hernias are done by either suture repair or prosthetic mesh repair. The latter is associated with a lower recurrence rate but a higher incidence of complications. The most serious complication is the development of fistula.

Fistula is a late complication of prosthetic mesh repair and is usually due to chronic erosion of bowel by mesh placed in direct contact with intestinal loops both in open and laparoscopic repairs. Symptoms of fistulas may include the following:

  •  Persistent pain—throbbing and worse when sitting down.
    •    Skin irritation around the anus, including swelling, redness and tenderness.
    •    Discharge of pus or blood.
    •    Constipation or pain associated with bowel movements.
    •    Fever
How is a Medical Device Defined as Defective?

Ohio Definition of Defective

Under Ohio law, a medical device is  defective if it is unreasonably dangerous for its intended use. A legal cause of action can be based on several types of medical device product defects. Most jurisdictions a version of one or more of these cause of actions. 

(1)  Manufacturing/ Construction Defect of the medical device:

(2) Defective design and/or formulation of the medical device:

(3) Failure to warn or inadequate warning or instruction associated with the medical device:

(4) Misrepresentation on the Safety or Efficacy of the Medical Device:

(5) Fraud Related to the Safety or Efficacy of the Medical Device

(6) Negligent Distribution or Testing of the Medical Device

 

FAULTY MEDICAL DEVICES

Learn about Medical Device Approval Processes