Hernias occur when part of the intestines pushes through an opening in the groin or abdominal wall. Most hernias require some type of surgical procedure to repair the tear. After surgery, a hernia patch is used to protect the opening from infection or injury. This patch consists of a recoil ring that allows the patch to be folded and placed over the tear. Although the hernia patch is associated with minimal incisions and stitches, the U.S. Food Drug Administration recalled the patch in 2005 due to the serious risks associated with its use.
Bowel Perforation
A serious complication associated with the hernia patch is bowel perforation, according to the website Hernia Patch Advisor. Bowel perforation can occur when the intestinal tissue is ripped as a result of a broken or loosened recoil ring. Torn intestinal tissue allows bodily waste to seep into the sterile environment of the abdominal cavity. Common symptoms of bowel perforation are high fever, vomiting or sepsis, a serious blood infection and in severe cases, death.
Intestinal Fistulae
People who have a hernia patch may experience intestinal fistulae, according to the FDA. Fistulas are malformed ducts that connect two organs together or one organ to the body's surface. Hernia Patch Advisor states that a broken recoil ring can cause the intestines to abnormally bond to the body cavity or the surface of the skin. Symptoms may consist of abdominal pain, abscesses and/or infection
Pain
The most common complication associated with a hernia patch is pain, according to Hernia Patch Advisor. After receiving a hernia patch, it is normal to experience some pain or tenderness around the surgical site that lasts from several days to a week. Severe and persistent pain that worsens or lasts several weeks after the implantation of the patch may signal that the recoil ring has broken and is moving around inside of the abdomen. In severe cases, the damaged recoil ring may puncture the intestines resulting in infection, tenderness, redness and/or internal bleeding.
