Covidien Symbotex Composite Mesh was the product at issue in the first Covidien hernia mesh trial. In August 2026, a federal jury in Boston awarded $88 million to a man and his wife after his Symbotex mesh became stuck to his bowel. If you had a Symbotex mesh implanted and developed complications, you may have a claim for compensation.
What Is Symbotex Mesh?
Symbotex Composite Mesh is made by Covidien, now part of Medtronic, and is used mainly to repair ventral and incisional hernias in the abdominal wall. It is a polyester mesh with an absorbable film made of pig (porcine) collagen on the side that faces the bowel. That film is meant to keep the bowel and other organs from sticking to the mesh while the abdominal wall heals.
Symbotex was cleared by the FDA in 2013 through the 510(k) process, based on its similarity to Covidien’s earlier Parietex Composite mesh, rather than through clinical trials.
Symbotex Mesh Complications
People with Symbotex mesh have reported complications including:
- The bowel or other organs adhering to the mesh
- Bowel obstruction, fistula or perforation
- Chronic abdominal pain and inflammation
- Infection
- Hernia recurrence
- Revision surgery to remove the mesh, sometimes with removal of part of the bowel
What the Symbotex Lawsuits Allege
The lawsuits focus on the collagen film. According to the court’s pretrial ruling in the first bellwether case, a Covidien animal study found the film fully absorbed by about day seven, while the product’s instructions said it was essentially degraded in less than a month. The plaintiffs allege that once the film dissolves, the bowel is exposed to the bare polyester mesh and can stick to it, and that Covidien failed to warn surgeons about how quickly the protection disappears. The lawsuits also allege that the polyester itself triggers chronic inflammation and can break down in the body.
The $88 Million Symbotex Verdict
Patterson v. Covidien was the first bellwether trial in the federal Covidien hernia mesh litigation, MDL No. 3029, before Judge Patti B. Saris in Massachusetts. Larry Patterson received a Symbotex mesh in a 2017 incisional hernia repair. In 2020 his bowel had adhered to the mesh, causing a bowel obstruction, and his hernia had come back, requiring reconstructive surgery.
On August 4, 2026, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of $88 million: $77 million to Mr. Patterson and $11 million to his wife, Tammy Patterson, for loss of consortium. The jury found that Covidien failed to warn. Medtronic has said it will challenge the verdict through post-trial motions and an appeal.
The next Covidien bellwether trial is set for January 11, 2027, and Covidien has not announced a settlement. For the latest, see our Covidien hernia mesh lawsuit update.
Who May Have a Symbotex Claim
You may have a claim if:
- Your hernia repair used a Covidien Symbotex mesh, which your operative report will show
- You developed complications such as bowel adhesions or obstruction, chronic pain, infection or a recurrent hernia
- You had revision surgery to repair or remove the mesh, or a doctor has recommended one or said it is too risky to perform
Every state sets a deadline, called the statute of limitations, for filing a claim, and it often runs from when you knew or should have known your injury was related to the mesh. Doyle APC currently represents clients nationwide in the Covidien hernia mesh lawsuits, and you pay nothing unless we win. We are also still reviewing select Bard claims with severe injuries; see our latest Bard update. Compensation can cover medical expenses, past and future, along with pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and a spouse’s loss of consortium.
Other Covidien mesh claims involve the Parietex and ProGrip lines. You can also read more about hernia mesh complications.
Common Questions
What is Symbotex mesh?
Symbotex Composite Mesh is a Covidien polyester hernia mesh with an absorbable collagen film on one side. It is used mainly in ventral and incisional hernia repairs.
What was the Symbotex verdict?
On August 4, 2026, a federal jury in Boston awarded $88 million in Patterson v. Covidien, the first Covidien hernia mesh bellwether trial, finding that Covidien failed to warn about its Symbotex mesh.
Has Covidien settled the Symbotex lawsuits?
No. As of October 2026, Covidien has not announced a settlement of its hernia mesh lawsuits.
Why does Symbotex mesh stick to the bowel?
The lawsuits allege that the collagen film meant to protect the bowel dissolves within days, leaving the bowel in contact with the polyester mesh, which can cause adhesions, obstruction and fistulas.
How do I know if I have Symbotex mesh?
Your operative report from the hernia repair will list the mesh used. If you cannot find it, we can request your records and review them for you.
Do I qualify if I have not had revision surgery?
Most claims involve revision surgery or a doctor’s recommendation for one. If a doctor has said removal is too risky, that can also support a claim. We can review your medical records to see whether you qualify.