Nearly two dozen federal lawsuits alleging serious injuries connected to Atrium C-QUR hernia mesh have been transferred into multidistrict litigation in The U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire. A number of cases have also been filed in New Hampshire state court.
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) selected the District of New Hampshire because Atrium Medical Corporation is located there and the location will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses, and also promote the efficient conduct of the litigation, according to the transfer order.
What is Atrium C-QUR Mesh?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Atrium C-QUR, a polypropylene mesh implant device, in March 2008 for use in hernia repair, chest wall reconstruction and to repair traumatic or surgical wounds.
Although Atrium C-QUR is coated in Omega-3 fatty acid, or fish oil, to provide what is advertised as an anti-inflammatory adhesion barrier to help prevent scar tissue from forming inside the body and sticking the organs together, the mesh has been linked to a host of medical adverse events and side effects.
Some common adverse effects associated with C-QUR Mesh include:
• Foreign body reaction
• Rashes
• Infection
• Adhesions
• Organ perforation
• Inflammation
• Fistula
• Mesh erosion
• Scar tissue
• Blood loss
• Dyspareunia
• Acute and chronic nerve damage and pain
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Kidney failure
Some plaintiffs have been required to undergo extensive medical treatment because of these adverse effects, including the use of narcotics to control pain and additional corrective surgeries to locate and remove C-QUR Mesh or to repair abdominal organs as well as tissue and nerve damage.
In October 2012, the FDA issued a warning letter to Atrium, citing the company for failure to investigate and respond to complaints about C-QUR mesh infections and device failure.
