A Minnesota Bair Hugger lawsuit may be an option for patients who experienced severe infection following joint replacement surgery. Bair Hugger warming blankets are often used to regulate patient body temperature and reduce the risk of infection during certain surgical procedures, including hip replacements and heart surgery. However, some patients claim that the blanket has led to serious complications such as severe surgical site infection. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to pursue compensation with the help of a Minnesota Bair Hugger lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Minnesota. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated Minnesota Bair Hugger lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Perioperative Hypothermia?
During surgical procedures, it is imperative that the physicians involved closely monitor the body temperature of the patient. An article posted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information defines hypothermia as a condition in which an individual’s body temperature drops below 96.8 degrees. If this condition occurs during the procedure, the patient could experience a condition known as perioperative hypothermia, which can increase the risk of unintended infections. This is a serious condition that is believed to occur in up to 20 percent of all surgical patients, and even minor cases have resulted in mortalities. In order to prevent such occurrences, surgeons and anesthesiologists frequently employ warming devices.
The Popularity of Forced Air Warming
According to the publication Infection Control Today, forced-air warming devices, such as the Bair Hugger, have been the standard for patient-warming devices for more than two decades; over 80 percent of hospitals throughout the U.S. use them. Its convective warming system, or forced-air warming as it is also known, allows for more heat transfer, and the warming blanket has proven to be an effective method of preventing surgical complications such as hemorrhaging and perioperative hypothermia.
Does the Device Increase the Risk of Infection?
Despite its usefulness in operating rooms, the Bair Hugger, like many medical devices, has been alleged to cause a variety of serious, unwanted side effects. The New York Times states that the inventor of the Bair Hugger, an anesthesiologist, claims that his invention has the potential to spread harmful bacteria during surgeries. The inventor, who also holds the rights to several other medical patents, has urged hospitals and clinics around the world to stop using the Bair Hugger. He also claims that patients receiving joint replacements and heart implants are at the highest risk for infection.
The Effects of Surgical Infection
An article published by Johns Hopkins Medicine states that the 30-day period after surgery is when most surgical infections occur. In the event of infection, antibiotics can usually be prescribed to patients successfully, but individuals are urged to contact their physician if they notice any of the following signs:
- Tissue inflammation
- Pus discharge
- Pain
- Redness
- Delayed healing
- Fever
Estimates state that between 1 and 3 percent of patients will go on to develop an infection after a surgical procedure.
Minnesota Bair Hugger Lawsuit Case Studies
In February 2016, a Louisiana woman filed a claim against the manufacturers and distributors of the Bair Hugger, 3M, and Arizant Healthcare Inc. She is seeking monetary compensation for loss of income and other hardships caused by an infection. The woman alleged that during a knee replacement surgery, the device caused contaminated debris to be blown into her open wounds, resulting in a serious surgical infection. Her attorneys claim that both companies knew about the potential for infection and that they knowingly misrepresented their product to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
How a Minnesota Bair Hugger Lawsuit Can Help
Medical device makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a medical device maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by Bair Hugger warming blankets may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to File a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Minnesota. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
