Last October, the CDC sent out a warning to physicians and patients regarding the possibility of developing an infection from surgical equipment that was used during their open-heart surgery. Patients across the U.S. and worldwide are potentially affected by this information.

The warning encouraged patients to be on the lookout for symptoms associated with an infection, including “night sweats, muscle aches, weight loss, fatigue or unexplained fever.”

The infection in question is due to mycobacteria that can potentially turn deadly. The bacteria are slow-growing, and months or years can go by before symptoms manifest or before a diagnosis is considered. Infection from this mycobacteria is so rare that physicians typically do not even consider it a possibility, unless they have specifically been directed to do so.

The risk of infection from surgical equipment was traced to a particular device known as the Sorin 3T Heater-Cooler. Heater-cooler devices are used to warm or cool the patient’s blood during surgery in order to improve surgical outcomes. The company that made the device is now known as LivaNova.

It is believed that the devices became contaminated during the manufacturing process. While the device is used during surgery, the bacteria may transfer from the device into the air where they could deposit into the patient’s surgical incision.

York County, Pa. Deals with Infection from Surgical Equipment

A story by York Dispatch covers heart surgery patients who are now at risk for developing an infection.

The news outlet stated that there are two cases where an investigation is taking place to see if to deceased patients actually had the mycobacterium infection. The infectious bacteria can’t be detected after the patient’s death, but a review of their medical records may yield evidence of infection, according to the article.

York Dispatch also indicated that York Hospital was the first site that mycobacteria infection was found in patients. According to the article, it was also the first to notify patients who had undergone heart surgery that they may be at risk for infection.

When the hospital first found out that the Liva Nova heater coolers were contaminated, they replaced them with other devices from the same manufacturer. They now use devices from another manufacturer, a WellSpan spokesperson stated.

A hospital-safety consultant based in Montgomery County, Lawrence Muscarella, told York Dispatch that while he was pleased that the CDC and FDA were taking the matter more seriously and alerting patients of the risk of infection, he did have some reservations.

Muscarella says the alert should focus on other devices in addition to the Sorin 3T. He believes there isn’t enough evidence to rule out an infection risk linked to other heater-cooler devices.

Have You Suffered Infection from Surgical Equipment?

If you or a loved one have developed an infection from surgical equipment used during heart surgery, you may be entitled to seek legal compensation from the device’s manufacturer. An experienced attorney can review your case and can discuss with you the options available to seek legal recourse.