Woman says her life threatened by use of recalled surgical patch

-ABC News

06/03/2008 - "At times it is excruciating. At times if feels like knives and at times if feels like burning."

That's the pain Virginia Beach's Judith Coyne says she lives with everyday. She tells us it began after having herinia surgery at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital last June. She couldn't understand why it wasn't going away. That's when she started investigating and found something surprising.

"I was in a state of shock. Ryan said to me: 'Mom -  do you want to hear the good news or the bad news'  I said 'I want to hear the good news'. He said: 'We know what it (the problem) is'. I said: 'Dear God, thank you'. But he said: 'Mom - I don't think you are going to like the bad news'."

When she and her son got her records, using the product code and lot number, they determined that the medical hernia mesh patch which was implanted in her during surgery had been recalled.

"The mesh is bad," she said.

The Kugel Mesh - made by Davol Incorporated - was recalled because some of the patches were breaking, causing serious injury.

Judith says doctor's notes from the day of the surgery show the recalled mesh being used.

When we asked Davol about the recall, the company confirmed the hospital was properly notified. Sentara officials tell us it wasn't the recalled mesh used in the surgery, but Judith says it's written in black and white in her records

"They could not do really anything for me at this point. They tell me they did what they can do".

She says doctors now tell her that the mesh is stuck to her organs and aren't willing to operate because it could kill her. She's scared if the patch breaks that she can lose her life.

"I need help. I need a doctor that's going to really help me," Judith pleaded.