Raizner Slania filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Florida man against 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare after he sustained a dangerous infection resulting from the use of the companies’ Bair Hugger device during surgery.
The plaintiff under went a total left hip replacement operation during which the Bair Hugger was used throughout the scope of his procedure. The Bair Hugger device introduced contaminants into the his open surgical wounds that caused him to develop a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), more commonly referred to as a deep joint infection (DJI). The pathogens identified were pseudomonas aeruginosa and gram negative rods.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa or P. aeruginosa is a multidrug-resistant pathogen that can cause very serious infections in patients. If left untreated, P. aeruginosa can cause life threatening conditions like sepsis and pneumonia. Gram negative bacteria like gram negative rods have a unique outer membrane protecting them from penicillin and other antibiotics. Infections of gram negative bacteria can cause severe symptoms and even death.
As a result of the infections caused by the Bair Hugger, the plaintiff was not only forced to undergo a total hip revision surgery, but also required aspiration, PICC line antibiotics, and surgical debridement with a wound vac application.
The infection caused by the Bair Hugger not only caused the plaintiff to suffer physical pain, but = also created a financial burden in medical bills and lost wages. The plaintiff believes the companies were negligent in failing to warn him of the infection risk associated with the Bair Hugger warming blanket, and that the device is defective in design and manufacture.
Widespread Use Of The Bair Hugger
The Bair Hugger warming blanket is used in 80% of all operating rooms in the United States. This puts thousands of patients at risk, but is especially dangerous for patients receiving artificial joints. Infections that spread on artificial joints are not detected by the body’s immune system, making them incredibly difficult to treat.
Raizner Slania: Bair Hugger Infection Attorneys
If you suffered from an infection after a hip or knee joint replacement surgery within the last five years, call the experienced defective device attorneys at Raizner Slania today. We can analyze your situation and help you understand your legal options. Our consultations are free and we work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t owe us anything unless we help you obtain compensation.