Category: Bair Hugger Lawsuits

Designed to regulate a patient’s core body temperature during surgery, the Bair Hugger warming blanket appears advantageous and practical in theory. But in practice, the use of this medical device can result in serious consequences including severe infections such as MRSA, a type of Staph infection, which can further develop into life-threatening complications such as sepsis and pneumonia. The experienced attorneys at Raizner Slania LLP have filed lawsuits on the behalf of injured victims against 3M Company, supporting their right to due compensation.


3M Bair Hugger Lawsuit

Texas Couple Files 3M Bair Hugger Lawsuit After Infection

Posted by Amy Hargis on

Raizner Slania LLP has filed a 3M Bair Hugger lawsuit on behalf of a Texas couple after the wife suffered a severe infection from the device. The couple alleges manufacturers 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare failed to warn them of the infection risks associated with the device.

In July 2017, the plaintiff underwent surgery in which the Bair Hugger warming blanket was used throughout course and scope of her left total knee replacement. The Bair Hugger warming blanket is designed to help regulate body temperature during surgical procedures. The Bair Hugger works by sucking in air from the operating room, heating it, and dispersing it through a blanket with holes draped over the patient. While regulating body temperature can help reduce bleeding risks and shorten hospital stays, the Bair Hugger introduces contaminants from the operating room air into the open surgical wounds of patients.

As a direct result of using the Bair Hugger, contaminants were introduced into the plaintiff’s open surgical wound during surgery, causing her to develop a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), more commonly referred to as a deep joint infection. The pathogens identified were acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and mixed skin flora.

Acinetobacter baumannii (or A. baumannii) is a short, nearly round, rod-shaped gram negative bacteria. This type of bacteria is considered opportunistic in humans, as it often affects people with compromised immune systems. A. baumannii is often associated with hospital acquired infections (HACs) and has been identified as a pathogen with a high rate of antibiotic resistance, making it a very difficult infection to treat. Staphylococcus haemolyticus (or S. haemolyticus), is a type of the common staph infection. However, S. haemolyticus has proven resistant to many antibiotics normally used to treat infections.

As a result of plaintiff’s Bair Hugger infection, she has undergone extensive additional medical treatments, including irrigation and debridement, multi-staged removal surgeries including placement of an antibiotic spacer, removal of the antibiotic spacer with extensive capsular and bony debridement, knee fusion with fusion nail and placement of a new spacer, and PICC line and oral antibiotics. In addition to these treatments, she will require additional future surgeries to replace the knee hardware once the infection is cleared.

Not only did the plaintiff suffer physically from the Bair Hugger infection, but she and her husband also suffered economically, with the cost of additional medical treatment. The couple believes the Bair Hugger device is defective in both its design and manufacture. The couple alleges 3M and Arizant committed consumer fraud and/or unfair and deceptive trade practices under Texas law.

Get Help With Your 3M Bair Hugger Lawsuit

If you or someone you care about underwent a joint surgery within the last five years and suffered an infection, you may be able to file a claim. The experienced trial attorneys at Raizner Slania LLP can analyze the facts of your situation and help you understand your legal options. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t owe us anything unless we help you recover compensation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

3M Bair Hugger Claim

Raizner Slania Files 3M Bair Hugger Claim On Behalf Of New York Couple

Posted by Andrew Slania on

Raizner Slania LLP has filed a 3M Bair Hugger claim on behalf of a New York couple after the husband obtained a severe infection from the device. The couple alleges that manufacturers 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare failed to adequately warn them of the infection risk associated with the device.

In December 2015, the plaintiff underwent surgery in which the Bair Hugger warming blanket was used throughout the scope of his procedure. The Bair Hugger was used to help regulate the patient’s body temperature during surgery, which can help reduce bleeding risks and shorten hospital stays. However, the design of the Bair Hugger allows for contaminants in the operating room air to be introduced into open surgical wounds.

As a result of the Bair Hugger being used during his surgery, contaminants were introduced into the plaintiff’s open surgical wounds causing him to develop a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Plaintiff’s gram stain showed elevated white blood cells, indicating infection, along with elevated sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. The plaintiff required additional surgeries to treat the infection, and according to the operative report from one of his subsequent procedures, he had pus buildup from his infection.

As a result of the plaintiff’s infection caused by the Bair Hugger, he has undergone extensive medical treatment, including an irrigation and debridement with near complete synovectomy, femoral head and acetabular polyethylene exchange, and PICC line antibiotics, among other treatments.

Not only did the plaintiff suffer physically from the infection caused by the Bair Hugger, but he and his wife also suffered economically, with the cost of additional medical treatment. The couple believes the Bair Hugger device is defective in both its design and manufacture. The couple alleges 3M and Arizant have committed consumer fraud and/or unfair and deceptive trade practices under New York state law.

Get Help With Your 3M Bair Hugger Claim

If you underwent a joint surgery within the last five years and suffered an infection, you may be able to file a claim. The experienced trial attorneys at Raizner Slania LLP can analyze the facts of your situation and help you understand your legal options. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t owe us anything unless we help you recover compensation. Call us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Bair Hugger Infection Claim

Utah Couple Files Bair Hugger Infection Lawsuit Against 3M and Arizant

Posted by Jeff Raizner on

Raizner Slania LLP has filed a Bair Hugger infection lawsuit on behalf of a Utah couple against 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare. The couple alleges the companies failed to warn them of the infection risk associated with the device.

In January 2017, the husband underwent surgery in which the Bair Hugger warming blanket was used throughout the course and scope of his right total knee replacement. The Bair Hugger introduced contaminants into the plaintiff’s open surgical wound that caused him to develop a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), also known as a deep joint infection. The pathogen identified was Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as a Staph infection, is a serious infection that can cause life-threatening complications. While Staph bacteria can safely appear on parts of normal human skin, when it enters into the body it can cause sepsis, pneumonia, endocarditis or the infection of heart valves, and osteomyelitis or a bone infection.

As a result of the infection caused by the Bair Hugger, the plaintiff was forced to undergo extensive medical treatment, including multi-staged revision and replacement surgeries including resection of the right total knee arthroplasty with antibiotic cement spacer placement and an incision revision, placement of a revised knee arthroplasty, and PICC line antibiotics. Despite this extensive treatment, the plaintiff still required ongoing physical therapy and home health assistance. The plaintiff may also require additional treatments in the future.

The Bair Hugger is composed of two parts: a machine that sucks in air and heats it and a blanket with holes that is draped over the patient. The heated air gets pushed into the blanket and out of the holes, delivering warm air to the patient’s body to help regulate body temperature during surgery. While medically helpful, this process also allows contaminants in the operating room air to be introduced into a patient’s open surgical wound.

The Utah couple believes the Bair Hugger device is defective in both its design and manufacture. The couple also alleges 3M and Arizant committed consumer fraud and/or unfair and deceptive trade practices under Utah state law.

Get Help With Your Bair Hugger Infection Claim

If you underwent a hip or knee surgery within the last five years and developed an infection, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the Bair Hugger manufacturers. Contact Raizner Slania LLP today for a free consultation regarding your Bair Hugger infection claim.

Bair Hugger Staph Infection Claim

Raizner Slania Files Bair Hugger Staph Infection Suit On Behalf Of Indiana Couple

Posted by Andrew Slania on

Raizner Slania LLP has filed a Bair Hugger staph infection suit on behalf of an Indiana couple after the husband suffered a severe infection from the device. The couple believes the Bair Hugger device is defective in its design and manufacture.

In January 2017, the plaintiff underwent a surgery in which the Bair Hugger warming blanket was used throughout the procedure to regulate his body temperature. Without temperature regulation, most patients would experience hypothermia during surgery, which increases bleeding risks and lengthens hospital stays. While utilizing a Bair Hugger can help decrease these risks, the design of the device exposes patients to serious infection risks. The Bair Hugger works by taking air from the operating room, heating it up, and dispersing it over the patient. This air cycling allows contaminants to be introduced to a patient’s open surgical wound.

As a direct result of using the Bair Hugger, contaminants were introduced into the plaintiff’s open surgical wound, causing him to develop a deep joint infection. The pathogen identified was staphylococcus aureus. Most people know staphylococcus aureus as the common Staph infection. While Staph bacteria is present on the skin of approximately one-third of the population, a Staph infection in an artificial joint is much more rare and a lot more dangerous. Staph infections in artificial joints are incredibly difficult to treat and can cause a number of serious conditions, including sepsis and pneumonia.

In order to treat the infection caused by the Bair Hugger, the plaintiff was forced to undergo extensive medical treatment, including multiple multi-staged revision surgeries including insertion and removal of multiple antibiotic spacers, single staged revision surgery including arthrotomy with polyethylene exchange, PICC line antibiotics, long-term antibiotic therapy, and physical therapy.

The plaintiff not only endured pain and suffering, but also suffered economically with the extensive bills from the treatments. The couple believes 3M and Arizant failed to warn them of the infection risks associated with the Bair Hugger device and committed consumer fraud and/or unfair and deceptive trade practices under Utah law.

Get Help With Your Bair Hugger Staph Infection Claim

If you or someone you love underwent a hip or knee joint surgery within the last five years and developed a staph infection, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit. The experienced defective device attorneys at Raizner Slania LLP can help you with your Bair Hugger Staph infection claim. Call us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

MRSA Infection Lawsuits

Virginia Couple File Deep Joint Infection Lawsuit Against Bair Hugger Manufacturers

Posted by Amy Hargis on

Raizner Slania has filed a deep joint infection lawsuit against 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare on behalf of a Virginia couple after the husband sustained an infection caused by the Bair Hugger warming blanket. The couple alleges 3M and Arizant failed to warn them of the infection risks associated with the medical device.

In April 2015, the plaintiff underwent artificial joint surgery in which the Bair Hugger warming blanket was used throughout the scope of his procedure. The Bair Hugger system is used to help regulate body temperature during operations. By regulating body temperature, doctors can reduce a patient’s bleeding risk and shorten hospital stays. However, the design of the Bair Hugger takes contaminants from the operating room air and forces them into open surgical wounds.

Contaminants introduced by the Bair Hugger during the plaintiff’s surgery caused him to develop a deep joint infection (DJI). The plaintiff had to undergo extensive treatment to fight the infection including irrigation and debridement with poly exchange, PICC line, and oral antibiotics. Additionally, the plaintiff required physical therapy and the use of a walker.

DJIs are more difficult to treat than other types of infections. Under normal circumstances, the presence of infection-causing bacteria in the body triggers the immune system. The immune system then releases antibodies to fight the infection. However, bacteria present on artificial joints don’t trigger an immune system response; therefore, the body doesn’t release any antibodies. This means the infection can grow unchecked by the immune system.

The Virginia couple believes the Bair Hugger device is defective in both its design and manufacture. The couple also alleges 3M and Arizant committed consumer fraud and/or unfair and deceptive trade practices under Virginia state law.

Deep Joint Infection Lawyers

Patients have a right to know all of the risks associated with procedures before deciding on treatment. 3M and Arizant failed to warn patients of the infection risks associated with using its Bair Hugger system and now thousands of patients are suffering from life-threatening infections. If you or someone you love has a deep joint infection from a hip or knee surgery performed within the last five years, Raizner Slania LLP can help you understand your legal options. Call us today to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.

Bair Hugger E. Coli Infection

Raizner Slania Files Bair Hugger Staph Infection Lawsuit on Behalf of Washington Woman

Posted by Andrew Slania on

Raizner Slania LLP has filed a Bair Hugger staph infection lawsuit on behalf of a Washington woman against 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare. The woman believes the Bair Hugger is defective in its design and manufacture.

In April 2012, the plaintiff underwent an artificial joint surgery in which the Bair Hugger warming blanket was used throughout the procedure to regulate body temperature. The Bair Hugger is composed of two parts – the first is a machine that sucks in air and heats it and the second is a blanket with holes that is draped over the blanket. The heated air gets pushed into the blanket and out of the holes, delivering warm air to the patient’s body.

However, this also allows contaminants in the operating room air to be introduced into a patient’s open surgical wound. As a result of the Bair Hugger system being used throughout the scope of her procedure, the patient developed a periprosthetic joint infection, also known as a deep joint infection. The pathogens identified were staphylococcus aureus and gram-positive cocci.

Most people know staphylococcus aureus as the common Staph infection. However, while most know about Staph infections that occur on the skin, Staph infections in artificial joints are incredibly difficult to treat. A Staph infection can cause a number of serious conditions, including sepsis and pneumonia.

In order to treat the infection caused by the Bair Hugger device, the plaintiff was forced to undergo extensive medical treatment, including multiple multi-staged revision arthroplasties, placement and removal of multiple antibiotic spacers, multiple irrigation and debridements with extensive synovectomies and polyethylene liner exchanges, and PICC line antibiotics. Additionally, the plaintiff required skilled nursing care and suffered additional complications from undergoing multiple major surgeries and using long-term antibiotics.

Not only has our client suffered physically, but also economically with cost of the additional medical treatments. Our client believes neither 3M nor Arizant ever warned her about the infection risks of the device and the companies are in breach of express warranty.

Don’t Wait To Get Help With Your Bair Hugger Staph Infection Lawsuit

If you have suffered a deep joint infection after a hip or knee joint surgery within the last five years, the experienced Bair Hugger lawyers at Raizner Slania LLP can help. There are time limitations on these types of claims, so don’t wait to call us and schedule a free consultation.