Good intentions
Forum Replies Created
-
Here is his list of surgeons that do mesh removal and also no mesh hernia repair. I see some new names.
https://www.noinsurancesurgery.com/list%20of%20surgeons.html
noinsurancesurgery.com
This is a list of surgeons who do pure tissue hernia repair and hernia mesh removal.
-
Dr. Towfigh has mesh removal on her page, you have to scroll down and click the forward arrow.
https://beverlyhillsherniacenter.com/
-
Dr. Yunis has mesh removal on his web page. Click the words at the top of the main page.
https://www.centerforherniarepair.com/jonathan-yunis-md/
centerforherniarepair.com
Meet Dr. Jonathan Yunis - Center for Hernia Repair Sarasota
Dr. Jonathan Yunis is a Florida-based hernia doctor with 20+ years of specialized hernia repair experience and treats roughly 700 hernia cases yearly.
-
Dr. Jacob has a mesh removal link under “Chronic Pain and Groin Injuries” at the top of his page.
https://www.nychernia.com/chronic-groin-pain-after-hernia-surgery/
nychernia.com
Groin Pain After Hernia Surgery | Hernia Mesh Pain | NYC Hernia
Consult with Dr. Jacob at NYC Hernia if you are experiencing Chronic Pain due to a previous Hernia Mesh, Tack, or Suture implant procedure. Learn more here!
-
Here is an article from General Surgery News about mesh removal.
-
Here is a practice with many surgeons that I have not heard of. They have a whole page about complications and the possible need for removal. I assume that they do it.
When I had mesh problems the surgeon that implanted the mesh never even considered trying to remove the mesh himself. Even though he was in residency at the Mayo Clinic at the same time as Dr. Billing, who did remove the mesh. Similar training and experience, one would do it, the other wouldn’t.
-
Another New York based surgeon. He is right at the heart of the problem, implanting mesh via “MIS”, also removing mesh via “MIS”. I wonder if he has removed the same mesh that he put in. Dr. Mark Reiner.
https://www.nycherniasurgery.com/hernia-mesh-removal/
nycherniasurgery.com
Hernia Mesh Removal in NYC | Expert Hernia Repair Doctor
f you require hernia mesh removal in NYC or the surrounding areas, call the experienced Dr. Reiner today for a personalized consultation!
-
Here is a plastic surgeon who does mesh removal. But apparently does not do inguinal hernia repair. If you go to the top of the page under “Body” and work through the sub-menus you’ll only find umbilical hernia repair shown. Interesting. But he does remove mesh. He has been mentioned on the site before. Dr. Repta, in Scottsdale Arizona.
https://www.drrepta.com/body/hernia-repair/mesh-removal-after-hernia/
drrepta.com
Mesh Removal After Hernia Scottsdale | No Mesh Hernia Repair
Address various symptoms and complications caused by hernia mesh such as burning sensations, swelling, shooting pains, and more with Dr. Repta and Scottsdale.
-
I almost forgot to add Dr. Peter Billing of Transform Weight Loss. He removed the mesh in me, and also did one side of sensei305.
It’s not promoted at all. It’s buried way down at the bottom of the page.
https://www.transformweightloss.com/weight-loss-solutions/hernia/
transformweightloss.com
Hernia - Transform Weight Loss
When one of your organs or some of your fatty tissue protrudes through the muscle wall, a hernia occurs. Hernias typically develop in your abdominal wall or groin and can affect men, women, and children. Hernias aren’t usually life-threatening, but … Continue reading
-
Dr. David Krpata of the Cleveland Clinic. Here is a story involving him, I will follow with a link to his web page.
The story is very very familiar to anyone that has had mesh problems. Somehow, all of these surgeons made it all the way through medical school and residency without becoming aware of the problem even though approximately 15% of patients who receive a mesh repair experience problems. Why are the educational facilities for surgeons so poor regarding hernia repair? Almost seems intentional.
The math seems to show that she had the mesh implanted in 2018.
my.clevelandclinic.org
Woman Relieved from Chronic Groin Pain After Hernia Mesh is Removed
Discover how Jody Lynn, finally got relief from a complication related to her hernia surgery after traveling to Cleveland Clinic and meeting with Dr. David Krpata.
-
Here is Dr. Krpata’s main page at the Cleveland Clinic.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff/20162-david-krpata
my.clevelandclinic.org
David Krpata, M.D. | Cleveland Clinic
Find professional and biographical information about Cleveland Clinic physician David Krpata, M.D.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I think that the article just shows what’s been known across any business with a large revenue stream. The money takes precedence over the original goals once there is enough flowing. Keep the revenue stream flowing..
Even the societies are getting caught up in making money as having priority over patient welfare. They’re mimicking popular get-rich-quick television shows.
Shark Tank. As the popular saying of the day goes, when looking at something that exists but is not-quite-right – “It is what it is”.
“As is typical of SAGES meetings, we expect to have a lot of FUN! <strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Surgical Family Feud is back with our emcee, Dr. Ross Goldberg at the helm. We have our beloved <strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Shark Tank competition and have added the <strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Pup Cup for all of those inventors out there who are early in the development (did you know baby sharks are called pups?).”
From their brochure –
“Don’t Miss the Chance to Win $30,000
Another reminder that the Shark Tank 2024 application deadline is fast approaching. Don’t wait; go here to apply today!
This year’s finalists will present both their idea and supporting business model to the Shark Tank judges at the SAGES annual meeting in Cleveland, April 18, 2024. All semi-finalists will present in person at the NBT Innovation Weekend, February 23, 2024 in Houston–and will have an opportunity to receive funding through SINC, a digital investment platform powered by Varia Ventures that allows fellow SAGES members to invest in their idea. In addition, the winner will also receive the $30,000 first prize.
For questions or inquiries regarding Shark Tank, please contact Julie Miller at julie@sages.org.
*SAGES 2024 Shark Tank is not affiliated with Shark Tank (Sony Pictures Television Inc.) “
-
I can’t reply to my own post so this will probably end up out of order.
Here is the actual list of “Surgeons of Quality”. Many of the big names are missing, but there are several that are recognizable.
One thing that comes out of the description of the program is that there is no mention of improving things for the patient. Calling out bad products for example. In the end it’s just another Certificate of Completion of taking a course and agreeing to supply data to the database. The database itself is still closed to the public. When they open up the data so that future patients can see which products and methods give the best results then it will have real value.
p.s. if you click “Remove Preview” then scroll down and post quickly the large annoying image will not show. You have to be quick though.
-
Thanks for the shout-out William. The ACHQC certainly seems like a good faith effort to make things better. But if you dig in to the details you find that there is not much substance there. Maybe things will improve as time goes on. This new “<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Verified Surgeon of Quality” <font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>program seems like more of a club that surgeons join, making a commitment to collect data and participate in the ACHQC meetings. And, of course, the corporate money is looming over it all, all device-focused. I’ll add some of the specific links </font>below<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> and pull out some material.</font>
<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>It </font>reminds<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> me that one of the reason I chose my </font>implantation<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> surgeon was </font>because<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> he was part of a group that was offering training and certification in laparoscopic methods. Take the training course, get a certificate. It was active at the time but I think that it has faded away.</font>
https://www.prweb.com/releases/Abdominal_Core_Health_Quality_Collaborative_Celebrates_Hernia_Awareness_Month_With_New_Verified_Surgeon_of_Quality_Program/prweb19370242.htm#!<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>
</font>“ACHQC Verified Surgeons of Quality demonstrate a commitment to consistent entry of data in the ACHQC Registry and participation in ACHQC’s continuous quality improvement programs including the annual ACHQC QI Summit. Importantly, patients recognize that surgeons who focus on optimizing hernia surgical outcomes can provide an enhanced level of care.
…
Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative programs are supported by Foundation Partners Medtronic, BD-Bard, Integra LifeSciences, TELA Bio, Allergan Aesthetics, Ethicon, Inc., and W.L. Gore.”
-
My posts are out of order again so they make little sense if you just read down the page. So I’ll reply directly to the last one so it will stay in order.
Here is a page on the ACHQC web site that seems to describe what we, the patients, need. Unfortunately, everyone involved in the hernia repair business has a vested interest in not changing. The surgeons have many patients behind them that have the mesh that they chose and if they change to a new mesh or new method the patients can reasonably ask “what was wrong with the one you used on me?”
The device makers have millions of dollars in marketing promotions and also potential liability from lawsuits if they change. The patient can reasonably ask “if you knew that the product had problems why didn’t you tell me before my surgeon used it on me?”
All that’s left is to make the information freely (free is the key) available to patients who are trying to be informed about the dangerous surgery that they need.
The ACHQC implies that this collected information will soon be available. I have to imagine though that the sponsors, the device makers supplying the funding, will be nervous about what is shown. I wouldn’t be surprised if the specificity is dumbed down to all mesh products lumped together in to broad categories like “light weight” and “standard” mesh. What the patient needs is the brand names: 3D Max, Progrip, Ovitex, etc. So they can see the actual results and make a choice, just like buying a set of tires or a microwave.
It will be interesting to see how things develop. So far, the ACHQC is just a group of surgeons under the purview of the device makers, saying “we’re trying to make things better”. Without specific numbers though, the effort is of little use. I think also, that the whole thing could just be another research tool, plus promotion of mesh devices. It could just be a facade.</font>
“Public Reporting Public Reporting of ACHQC Data
COMING SOON
123,398 Enrolled Patients
462 Participating Surgeons”
https://achqc.org/data/public-reporting
-
-
Here is a link to the table of data.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10029-023-02919-4/tables/3
link.springer.com
Purpose To examine updated evidence on the efficacy and safety of mesh non-fixation in patients undergoing laparo-endoscopic repair of groin hernias. Methods We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Library, Embase, ClinicalTrials. gov, and ICTRP databases to identify randomized controlled trials. The … Continue reading
-
The latest from the Miller& Zois page, linked above.
December 5, 2023: Georgia Settlement
Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ethicon have reached a settlement in a Georgia multidistrict litigation that involves 224 cases. This settlement was confirmed through a joint motion to dismiss the claims, which was agreed upon by both parties and approved by U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story. In response to the settlement, Ethicon Inc. underscored that it accepts no real responsibility, claiming that the decision was taken to prevent a drawn-out legal process. Of course, we are long past preventing a drawn-out process in any of these hernia mesh lawsuits.
This recent agreement comes on the heels of a similar settlement about six months earlier, in which the companies resolved claims with 161 plaintiffs in MDL-2782.
December 4, 2023: New Bard Lawsuit
Bard lawsuits keep coming. On Friday, the wife of a now-deceased Oklahoma man who had the Ventralight ST filed a lawsuit directly in MDL-2846. The lawsuit – which is not a wrongful death claim – makes the usual assertions of defective design, manufacturing defect and, most importantly, failure to warn.
This case was one of two Bard hernia mesh lawsuits filed Friday.
-
Well, this is really a shame. Old threads that actually had good information, including replies from well-respected surgeons, are now being deleted.
The infamous Chuck started a thread about Dr. Reinhorn and Dr. Reinhorn responded. I linked to it above, the “Why is Dr. Reinhorn never mentioned…”. But the link now leads to a 404 page, and searching the key words using Google also gives a 404. Dr. Reinhorn’s professional response on what seemed to be a professional discussion forum has been thrown in the garbage.
It really does look like Dr. Towfigh has decided to let the HerniaTalk forum die a slow death. It makes one wonder. Twitter is dead, HerniaTalk.com is dying. What will happen to the YouTube channel?
I really hope this is temporary but dev’s early responses and the recent ghosting by everybody involved in managing the web site are not good signs.
-
Could one of you comment on what the future plans are for the HerniaTalk forum? At this point it is impossible to look back at any specific member’s posts because the Timeline function brings up random posts of other members instead. Any reply to a Discussion gets placed randomly in the middle of the thread, garbling the flow of the Discussion. Nobody can see Updates or Discussions unless they sign in. The site has very little value to anyone who does not create an account and sign in on a regular basis.
I understand that getting these types of web sites working correctly is difficult and it can take time and effort. My question is – will more time and effort be spent to get the forum working correctly? Or is it considered to be “done” now?
If a decision has been made to just “cancel” the forum that would be understandable, but this seems like an odd way to do it. Although it has great value to patients looking for information about hernias and repair methods, it’s definitely not good for the business of hernia repair. I have to imagine that Dr. Towfigh gets constant push-back from industry representatives and fellow surgeons to just let the forum die. Go back to the darkness, stop letting people shine light on the problems, despite the supposed push for “informed consent”.
I hope that this chaos on the forum is just temporary and that there really is a plan for a properly functioning and informative discussion forum. At this point there is still a lot of work ahead. Thanks for the years of good informed discussion so far, since the forum’s inception, whatever your future plans are. Many people have been helped by information from the old forum.
-
Can’t see any updates on the main page unless I sign in. Any non-member who finds the site will just see a spinning wheel.
Replying specifically to the last post on the list so that this post will be easy to find.
Good luck.