Becton Dickinson, a manufacturer of infusion pumps, recently issued a recall for the Alaris infusion pump. This issue has left hospitals trying to determine if they should have the product repaired or replaced.

An infusion pump has the task of delivering medications intravenously, including pain meds and antibiotics. The pump also delivers blood to patients who need it. The device is used on patients of all ages, from infants to adults.

Dangers of Infusion Pump Malfunction

When an infusion pump malfunctions, it can deliver the medication too fast or not fast enough. If the medication is delivered too slowly, it may be ineffective at treating the condition. However, when medication is delivered too quickly, it can be fatal.
Hospitals must decide if they will repair the pumps by replacing as many as 7000 components on the device. The other option is to monitor the pump for defects. Many facilities are choosing to monitor the pumps since they haven’t had an issue with malfunctioning. Trinity Health is replacing the pumps at its hospitals around the country. Munson Healthcare is replacing half of the pumps but hasn’t decided on a product. Becton Dickinson products make up around 80 percent of the market for infusion pumps.

Other products do exist, including pumps from Johnson & Johnson, Coviden, Baxter, ICU Medical, B Braun and Hospira. The pumps range in size and can cost between $1000 and $3000 with some products even higher in price.

Numerous Recalls

The FDA labelled several recalls as Class 1, which means that the device could cause death or serious injury. Another recall received the label of Class 2, which may still cause harm to a person but the damage is temporary or can be reversed through medical means. Becton Dickinson responded by issuing voluntary recalls in February of 2020. At that time, over 1100 incidents had been reported with 55 injuries and one fatality. The recall affects multiple products in different series.

Products included in the recall date back to 2004 through 2019 to a total of 774,000 units that have been sold in the US. These devices may interrupt infusion, delay it, or have faster or slower delivery. Becton Dickinson has admitted that 13 models of the infusion pumps have had various problems with either the software or hardware. However, the manufacturer says the devices don’t necessarily need to be replaced or stop being used. Critics say that all the pump models included in the Class 1 recalls should be removed and destroyed.

The manufacturer’s instructions to hospitals gave the facilities the option to either removed and discard the pumps or to have them updated with new software and training for nurses. Some medical staff say they haven’t been taught how to use the devices with the new guidelines. Others say they have been given the information for monitoring these devices.
Hospital administration bear the burden of deciding how to respond to the recall to protect patients and manage the budget. Medical staff can only follow the requirements of their facilities and the guidelines of the manufacturer.

Hernia mesh products have been around since the 1950s when they were first developed. They have become widely accepted as a method to repair hernias. Over time, manufacturers have altered these products with new materials, various coatings and unique features. Some of the mesh products have been proven to be defective, even to the point of causing life-changing injuries.

Multiple Defective Products

Even though hernia mesh products have been around for decades, new products are continually being introduced and not all of them are safe. Some of these products contain different materials and have not been tested thoroughly to determine safety. Often, additional surgery is required to remove the mesh and to repair the hernia again that the first mesh failed to treat.

Some of the products involved in lawsuits include the following:

• Covidien – one of the most recognizable names, Covidien has had numerous claims against its products. Parietex hernia mesh was one product that used the material polyester rather than polypropylene. While it tried to fix the problems associated with this product, it did not test the safety of the mesh before putting it on the market.
• Bard – another well-known name, Bard has a product called Sepramesh IP Composite, which is supposed to incorporate itself into the tissue and is made with polyglycolic acid and polypropylene. It is used in reconstructing soft tissue loss, but has been associated with serious side effects, including bowel obstruction and adhesions, which often require surgeries to correct.
• Ethicon – the Ethicon Physiomesh was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2010 and launched as a product in October 2010. However, it was taken off the market voluntarily because of issues with the base layer, which is made of polypropylene. This plastic material is coated with polymeric films which is supposed to cause the material to degrade, but it often remains in the person’s body for a long time.
• Atrium – The Atrium C-QUR was approved for use by the FDA in March 2006, but it has been associated with problems. Two versions, one used for pre-peritoneal repairs and another with placement in the intra-abdominal area, were designed for small hernia issues.

Complications from Hernia Mesh Products

Hernia mesh products can cause a wide range of side effects. The most minor include severe pain, but most require surgery to fix the problem. The most common complications from this product is also the most serious. Adhesion and bowel obstruction are common along with the risk of rejection, migration and infection.

One of the most common complications is adhesion which causes scar-like tissue to stick together and results in chronic pain that may be severe. It can lead to bowel obstruction which can be life-threatening.

In one case, a hernia mesh product attached to the small intestine of a patient. It was necessary to remove the mesh just 12 days after the original surgery to implant it. The mesh products are usually coated to prevent the risk of adhesion, but the coating is dissolved in the body in a short time, which then allows the product to adhere to the intestines or other tissue.

The mesh can also migrate to other areas of the body, where it can cause other issues. One of the most severe and dangerous complications is bowel obstruction. The person begins to feel nauseated and vomits and is unable to pass stool or even gas. Treatment is necessary immediately or the person can die. The obstruction will cut off blood flow if not treated quickly, which will allow part of the intestine to die and need to be removed. According to the FDA, a major reason for bowel obstruction is due to recalled mesh.

Bowel perforation is another serious condition which happens from hernia mesh. It occurs when the product punctures the bowel. The mesh can also perforate other organs or the abdominal wall. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, severe pain in the abdomen and rigidity. Bacteria gets into the abdominal cavity and leads to peritonitis or sepsis and requires immediate medical attention.

These and other complications may occur right away after the initial surgery. However, it can also be years before a person experiences the complications. With the longer wait, it can take some time to realize the direct cause is the hernia mesh. Lawsuits have been filed for hernia mesh complications that resulted from recalled products or those that have been deemed to be defective. The cost of repair can be quite a financial burden with multiple surgeries and even permanent damage.

Hernia mesh products have been around and used in hernia repair surgeries since they were first introduced in the 1950s. However, they have not been without some serious complications, which can even be life-threatening. While there are risks for any hernia repair surgery, some of the most common and most serious have resulted from mesh products that have been recalled.

Adhesion from Hernia Mesh Products

One of the most common issues is adhesion from the mesh implanted in the abdomen of the patient. Hernia mesh products are made of a variety of materials, and they may attach to tissue inside. The mesh has a coating which helps prevent the issue, but the coating dissolves while the mesh is often permanent.

The mesh may adhere to the abdominal wall or the intestines or other tissue. It can cause severe pain that won’t go away until the product is removed through surgery. Adhesion can lead to bowel obstruction.

Bowel Obstruction with Hernia Mesh

A bowel obstruction begins with an adhesion to the intestines. It can also migrate where it can entrap the intestines. Symptoms of bowel obstruction include nausea and vomiting. The patient is also unable to pass stool. They will require immediate attention because this is a dangerous condition.

If not treated quickly enough, part of the intestine may need to be removed. Reports from the FDA cite mesh products that have been recalled as a major reason for obstruction.

How Hernia Mesh Causes Bowel Perforation

Recalled products have also been shown to cause perforation in the bowels. This occurs when the mesh punctures the intestine or other area of the abdomen. It may also puncture an organ, creating a life-threatening condition.

Symptoms of a bowel perforation include nausea and vomiting along with severe pain in the abdomen and rigidity of the abdomen – the abdomen feels hard. Bacteria can get into the abdomen from the puncture, which can then lead to sepsis and peritonitis. These conditions may be fatal.

Infection from Hernia Mesh

An infection may result from hernia mesh surgery. Often, the mesh will need to be removed through surgery. Antibiotics can treat minor issues while deep infections are more complicated. Chronic infection may not begin for years after the initial surgery, which can make it more difficult to diagnose.

A person with infection from a hernia mesh product may experience inflammation and fever. They may notice other flu-like symptoms as well.

Migration of the Hernia Mesh

Another complication for hernia mesh surgery is that the product will detach and migrate into other areas of the body. Complications from a migrating mesh can include the following:

• Adhesion
• Bowel obstruction
• Bowel perforation
• Abscess
• Fistulas

In one case reported to the FDA, an implant detached and migrated to the intestine where it adhered. Surgery was required to remove the mesh along with a portion of the intestine.

There may be pain with migration or the patient may not have any symptoms until other damage occurs.

Damaged Mesh

The hernia mesh product may rip, tear or disintegrate, causing problems. The mesh can rip from the sutures, which often happens if the person lifts something too heavy or overexerts themselves too soon after surgery.

Another issue is if the mesh shrinks, which can cause it to come lose from the sutures in time. A long-term issue is when the mesh erodes and breaks into pieces. The pieces may move around and perforate surrounding tissue.

All of these problems can lead to migration, which can cause other complications. Surgery is often necessary to repair the condition.

Issues with hernia mesh can happen right after surgery, a few weeks or months later or years afterwards. The hernia may rupture again even with the mesh in place. While the product is effective at repairing the hernia, it is not a guarantee.

Defective Products

As with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of these complications even if everything is done correctly. However, there have been numerous recalls of hernia mesh products that increase the risk of problems. It may be related to the materials used or the design of the product. Some products have a higher failure rate than others, and some have been recalled due to their safety issues.

It is important to let a doctor know you’ve had a hernia mesh if you experience symptoms that can be associated with these complications. Often, immediate medical attention is necessary to prevent further damage or health issues. It can be difficult to diagnose a condition related to the mesh correctly.